- Mining companies are being urged to strengthen ESG practices.
- Government says responsible mining must protect communities and the environment.
- Stronger governance is expected to support sustainable investment.
ZIMBABWE’S mining companies must give greater attention to environmental, social and governance issues as the sector seeks to attract investment and manage its impact on communities, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said.
Speaking to ZiMining on the sidelines of the National ESG Conference in Harare on Thursday, Kambamura said mining companies should take greater responsibility for the areas where they operate.
“We encourage our mining sector to seriously consider environmental, social and governance issues so that they mine responsibly, respecting the environment and communities they are operating within,” Kambamura said.
“We want them to do proper mining and mining sustainably,” he added.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector includes major producers of gold, platinum group metals, lithium, chrome and coal and remains a major source of export earnings. The U.S. International Trade Administration estimates that mining accounts for about 75% of the country’s exports.
The government has also been tightening its focus on mineral value addition and the management of strategic minerals as it seeks to attract investment while increasing the benefits retained in Zimbabwe. In May, the government formally classified a number of minerals as critical, special critical or strategic based partly on their economic importance and potential to support local industry.
Kambamura said stronger governance would take time but urged companies to begin making progress.
“Corporate governance is a journey of a thousand miles which begins with a step and, as government, we value the effort of the single steps that are underway being taken by each individual company,” he said.
Environmental requirements are already part of Zimbabwe’s mining and investment framework. Mining and other prescribed developments require environmental approval from the Environmental Management Agency, with the process assessing potential environmental and social impacts and providing for public participation.
The government has previously said mining companies would be required to disclose their ESG plans before obtaining mining titles, under a planned policy framework.
The ESG focus also comes as mining investment continues to expand, with major producers committing capital to new projects, beneficiation and energy infrastructure. Mining investment issued through Zimbabwe’s investment authorities has included billions of dollars in new licences since 2023, according to industry reporting.
