Gold Mill Brings Hope to Shurugwi Miners

A new US$300,000 gold mill in Shurugwi is bringing renewed hope to thousands of artisanal miners (image source)

SHURUGWI — A newly commissioned US$300,000 gold milling and processing centre in Shurugwi District was officially handed over this week, promising to boost incomes for thousands of artisanal miners and local communities across the Midlands Province. The facility, funded by Cheng-Xi Chengetai Investments and established under the Shurugwi Community Empowerment Trust, is expected to provide affordable milling services to more than 5,000 beneficiaries and create both direct and indirect jobs in the area.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Midlands Province, Honourable Owen Ncube, described the project as transformative for small-scale miners and a sign of deepening Zimbabwe–China mining cooperation.

“We used to travel long distances and pay large fees to process our ore,” said Blessing Moyo, an artisanal miner from Ward 7, speaking at the commissioning. “Now the centre is close by and cheaper; I can finally plan to reinvest earnings in my family and tools.”

A local shop owner, Anna Chimedza, reported increased foot traffic already, noting that truckloads of miners arrived the morning after the handover to register for services. Officials say the centre is equipped to support safer and more efficient gold processing methods, reducing on-site mercury use and improving recovery rates for small-scale operators. The facility’s technical setup and management plan were presented to provincial authorities during the handover ceremony.

Mining economist Dr. Tendai Ruwodo said the mill could materially enhance the formalisation of the informal mining sector if paired with proper licensing, training, and environmental controls.

“A community-level processing hub can raise yields and earnings for artisanal miners while making regulation and taxation more feasible,” he said.

Dr. Ruwodo, however, warned that the full benefits will depend on transparent pricing, operator training, and ongoing oversight to prevent elite capture and environmental harm. The commissioning aligns with government efforts to formalise artisanal mining, empower communities, and steer investment toward Vision 2030 development objectives. Provincial statistics highlight mining as a major driver of the Midlands economy, with gold singled out as a high-value mineral stimulating local investment and employment opportunities.

The new centre is being positioned as a practical step toward increasing the sector’s contribution to provincial GDP and local livelihoods. Provincial authorities and Cheng-Xi Chengetai Investments plan phased enrolment of miners, on-site training sessions, and community consultations on governance and revenue sharing.

Stakeholders emphasised that monitoring and partnerships with the Ministry of Mines will be key to ensuring the centre benefits ordinary miners rather than a few intermediaries.