Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Ms. Henrietta Rushwaya has expressed unwavering confidence that national gold production will comfortably surpass the 40-tonne government target for 2025, revealing that a formidable 33 tonnes had already been delivered by the end of September, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The announcement, which signals a potentially record-breaking year for the country’s mining industry, was made by Rushwaya during a recent address at Mine Entra in Bulawayo. She highlighted the pivotal role played by both small-scale and large-scale miners in achieving this milestone.
“As small-scale miners, we have escalated our gold production to the extent that as of the end of September, our production combined with the large-scale miners had risen to 33 tonnes of gold,” Rushwaya stated. “And like we forecast at the beginning of the year, that we were looking at doing 40-plus tonnes of gold, I’m sure Fidelity, with your indulgence and concurrence, will gladly surpass the 40 tonnes of gold which we had committed to.”
This bullish outlook is firmly anchored in the sector’s sustained performance throughout the year, particularly the dominance of artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM). Recent data from Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) for August 2025 reinforces this trend, showing a sector in robust health.
Despite a marginal 0.36% month-on-month decrease, August deliveries stood at a strong 4,189.77 kg, representing a significant 22.57% surge compared to the same month in 2024. This year-on-year growth underscores the sector’s resilience and upward trajectory.
Crucially, the ASM sector remains the engine of this growth. In August, small-scale miners delivered 3,249.93 kg of gold, a 1.56% increase from July and a remarkable 35.96% jump year-on-year. This contribution meant the ASM sector accounted for nearly 78% of all gold delivered in August, while large-scale producers, who delivered 939.84 kg, saw a slight contraction.
This pattern is not isolated. The strong August figures followed a similarly robust July, where total deliveries of 4,205.02 kg were 20.3% higher year-on-year. The first half of the year had already set a powerful precedent, with gold deliveries skyrocketing 45.85% to 20,103.55 kg, driven by a near-doubling (96.31% increase) of ASM contributions.
Industry analysts attribute this stellar performance to improved trust in formal marketing channels, incentivized by Fidelity Gold Refinery’s competitive pricing, which has been offering over US$105 per gram. This policy has been critical in encouraging miners to channel their gold through official means, thereby boosting national deliveries.
With 33 tonnes already banked in the first three quarters and the consistent, record-setting pace of artisanal and small-scale miners, the ZMF’s confidence appears well-founded. The sector is not merely on track to meet the 40-tonne goal but is positioned to confidently surpass it, marking a historic achievement for Zimbabwe’s gold mining industry.
