ZIMBABWE’S government is moving to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, a sector that now supplies 68% of the gold delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery, according to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
The figures were presented at the recent EU–Zimbabwe Forum, where officials highlighted the growing contribution of artisanal miners to the country’s gold production.
Nelson Munyanduri, director of non-energy minerals at the ministry, said miners once dismissed as “Chikorokoza Chapedza” have become central to national output. He said this has prompted a policy shift from suppression to support.
Munyanduri said small-scale miners now account for more than two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s gold production. He said the government is working to bring them into the formal mining sector to sustain and increase output.
Among the measures under consideration is the establishment of gold service centres. The centres would provide technical support to improve recovery rates and the quality of gold produced.
Artisanal miners were key to achieving last year’s gold output of 36 tonnes. They are also expected to play a major role in meeting this year’s target of 40 tonnes, set by Mines Minister Winston Chitando.
Munyanduri said formalisation will require new investment models that improve access to capital and technical expertise. “We need to come up with a model on how to work with artisanal small-scale miners to optimise production,” he said.
Gold service centres, he added, are among the strategies being explored.
Small-scale miner Kumbirayi Mangwanda welcomed the government’s shift in approach. He said limited access to finance has long constrained the sector.
“We are not small-scale because we are small, but because we are underfunded,” Mangwanda said, adding that exploration remains the biggest financial challenge.
Economists say formalising artisanal mining could boost foreign currency earnings, create jobs and reduce reliance on capital-intensive large-scale mining.
However, challenges remain. Environmental risks and regulatory uncertainty continue to affect the artisanal small-scale mining sector, despite its growing contribution to output.
To maintain momentum, analysts say the government must create clear frameworks that allow miners to secure legal claims, access financing and receive technical support.
Officials say gold service centres will be introduced in key mining districts later this year. Detailed timelines have not yet been announced.
Stakeholders, including government officials, mining associations and development partners, have stressed the need to balance economic gains with environmental protection.
Studies supported by the World Bank estimate that more than 50,000 small-scale miners operate across Zimbabwe. Observers say formalisation offers a significant opportunity to shape the future of the country’s mining industry.
