Zimbabwe’s mining sector is on track to exceed last year’s US$8.6 billion in mineral export earnings after generating approximately US$5.73 billion in exports during the first half of 2026, Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon. Dr Eng. P. Kambamura has revealed.
By Kelvin Sungiso
Addressing the Ministry’s 2026 Mid-Term Strategic Planning Review Workshop in Kadoma on Monday, Kambamura said the strong performance reflects the sector’s growing contribution to the economy but stressed that the Government’s focus is now shifting from increased mineral production to accelerated beneficiation, policy implementation, and responsible mining.
The Minister said mineral exports for the first six months of the year comprised US$2.532 billion marketed through the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and approximately US$3.2 billion from gold. Excluding gold and silver, mineral exports surged by 84.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, marking one of the strongest performances by the sector in recent years.
Gold continued to anchor the industry’s growth, with 21.4 tonnes delivered between January and June. Artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for 14.9 tonnes, representing 70 per cent of total deliveries and reinforcing the sector’s critical role in supporting livelihoods for more than one million Zimbabweans.
While commending the industry’s performance, Kambamura challenged ministry officials to move beyond celebrating production figures and focus on delivering tangible reforms.
“We are not here to defend positions; we are here to improve delivery,” he said, urging officials to address long-standing delays in implementing key policies and processing mining titles.
The Minister acknowledged that several strategic policies remain unlaunched despite having been completed years ago, while backlogs in mining title applications and unresolved disputes continue to affect investor confidence.
He directed departments to convert these outstanding issues into measurable actions before the end of the year.
A major theme of the Minister’s address was beneficiation, which he described as the foundation of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda. He said the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals and intermediate products to manufacturing higher-value products locally.
The Government’s February 2026 ban on the export of unbeneficiated minerals remains central to this strategy. Kambamura highlighted ongoing investments that support the policy, including the integrated steel complex at Manhize, the Arcadia lithium sulphate plant, which exported Zimbabwe’s first locally produced lithium sulphate in April, and additional lithium processing facilities under construction at Kamativi and Sinomine Bikita.
He also announced plans to establish regional beneficiation hubs aligned with mineral endowments, allowing chrome-producing areas to specialise in ferrochrome and chromium alloys, while iron ore regions focus on steel production.
Looking ahead, Kambamura outlined several priorities for the second half of 2026, including finalising amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act, completing the E-Mine Cadastre System to improve transparency in mineral title administration, and launching key policies covering mineral development, beneficiation, and artisanal and small-scale mining.
Formalising the artisanal and small-scale mining sector will also remain a priority, with the Government seeking to improve access to finance, training, safety, environmental compliance, and gold mobilisation while strengthening provincial inspections.
On environmental management, the Minister said stronger enforcement of Environmental Impact Assessment regulations and improved mine rehabilitation are necessary to safeguard communities and ecosystems. He emphasised that mining companies must earn not only legal licences but also the confidence of the communities in which they operate.
Kambamura also signalled a renewed focus on energy minerals after the Government classified coal as a Special Critical Mineral. He said idle coal concessions held for speculative purposes would be repossessed, while investment would be directed towards clean coal technologies, coal-to-liquid fuel projects, coal-bed methane development, and gas exploration in Muzarabani.
To attract investment, Zimbabwe will continue showcasing opportunities at major international mining conferences while prioritising investors who support beneficiation, technology transfer, and responsible mining practices.
The Minister concluded by calling for greater accountability within both the Government and the mining industry, saying efficiency, integrity, and timely decision-making are essential if Zimbabwe is to maximise the value of its mineral resources.
He said the country’s success should ultimately be measured not by the volume of minerals extracted but by the industries established, jobs created, and communities transformed through sustainable mineral development.
