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…As NRMAF Pilot Signals Sunset for Irresponsible Miners
The National Responsible Mining Audit Framework, which will soon be piloted, is expected to trigger regulation that enforces responsible mining practices — a message to current and potential investors that Zimbabwe is only open for responsible business, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
While mining remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy, local communities continue to bear the cost. From deforestation and river pollution to desecrated graves, the environmental and social toll is severe, yet communities often receive little more than dust as a benefit from the activity. Weak ESG compliance across the sector underscores the urgent need for stronger oversight and responsible practices.
In response, the Ministry of Mines is set to pilot the NRMAF, designed to address regulatory gaps and institutionalise responsible mining. According to Edwell Maposa of ENM Advisory Group, the government’s technical partner on the project, the framework will demonstrate that Zimbabwe is open for business, but in a sustainable and ethical way.
“The pilot represents a fundamental commitment to sustainable and ethical practices across the national mining sector,” Maposa said. Successful validation will trigger regulatory amendments for full national rollout and the commissioning of a national data management portal, signalling to the world that Zimbabwe is open for responsible business.”
This initiative reinforces warnings previously issued by senior leadership. At this year’s Mine Entra, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga stressed that while Zimbabwe welcomes investment, it does not tolerate indiscriminate extraction, particularly by operators who ignore environmental and social obligations. President Emmerson Mnangagwa echoed this in his State of the Nation Address, pledging decisive action against irresponsible miners and committing to protecting communities and the environment.
The government’s message is clear and uncompromising: non-compliance will no longer be tolerated.
The NRMAF pilot signals a renewed, serious stance on responsible mining, making it evident that operators must meet statutory and ESG obligations if they wish to continue working in Zimbabwe. Miners who fail to comply risk regulatory sanctions, fines, or even removal from the sector, underscoring that responsible, sustainable operations are now mandatory.
By unifying statutory compliance and ESG performance checks and consolidating technical and social audits through the pilot data system, the NRMAF aims to deliver verifiable accountability.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, it lays the foundation for a national system to track compliance and progress across the sector, ensuring that Zimbabwe’s mining not only drives the economy but also benefits its people and protects its natural heritage.
As the pilot progresses, all eyes will be on how effectively Zimbabwe enforces responsible mining. The outcome will not only define the sector’s future but also signal to investors and communities alike whether Zimbabwe can balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
