Zimbabwe Reserves Small-Scale Gold Mining for Locals in Major Sector Reform

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has announced sweeping reforms in Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector, reserving small-scale gold mining exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens and companies wholly owned by locals. The new policy was announced by Polite Kambamura and takes immediate effect. The government says the reforms are designed to increase indigenous participation in mining, improve transparency and reduce mineral leakages that continue to affect the country’s gold industry.

According to ZBC News, foreign investors currently operating in Zimbabwe’s small-scale gold mining sector will be required to transition to large-scale mining operations by 1 January 2027. Under the new framework, operators seeking classification as large-scale miners must either:

• Produce more than 20 kilogrammes of gold per month, or

• Invest more than US$15 million in mining operations.

Dr Kambamura said Zimbabwe remains open to responsible foreign investment in medium and large-scale mining, particularly in beneficiation, infrastructure development and value addition projects.

“Government remains committed to maintaining an open, secure, and investment-friendly environment for responsible foreign investment in Zimbabwe’s mining sector,” he said.

The reforms also introduce stricter regulatory and compliance requirements across the gold mining industry. Mining companies will now be required to maintain proper production, operational, and financial records while fully complying with tax, labour, environmental, and occupational safety laws. Authorities further directed that all gold produced in Zimbabwe must continue to be sold through authorised channels in line with national mining regulations.

Mining analyst Takunda Mugaga said the reforms reflect Government efforts to formalise the sector and curb gold smuggling.

“Zimbabwe continues losing significant mineral revenue through informal trading and leakages. Increased monitoring and formalisation could improve accountability and national earnings,” he said.

As part of the reforms, the government also ordered that 98 percent of senior and middle management positions in gold mining operations must be occupied by Zimbabwean nationals. Authorities said immediate compliance with the directive is expected across the sector. The policy further states that foreign-owned mining claims will be assessed based on actual production performance and verified gold deliveries through officially approved buying systems.

The government warned that foreign investors holding undeveloped mining claims for speculative purposes would face increased scrutiny. Officials said idle mining assets would now be monitored closely to ensure productive utilisation of national mineral resources. Heap leaching gold mining operations have also been instructed to register directly with the Minister’s office and submit monthly production declarations alongside details of elution plants.

In addition, mining firms will be required to provide approved Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks and Environmental Impact Assessments before operations begin.

Zimbabwe’s mining industry remains one of the country’s most important economic sectors, generating billions in export earnings annually through gold, lithium, platinum and chrome production. The government says the latest reforms are aligned with the country’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seeks to maximise local economic participation and ensure mineral wealth contributes more directly to national development. Economic commentators say the success of the reforms will depend on policy consistency, investor confidence and the Government’s ability to balance indigenisation objectives with foreign investment attraction.

Zimbabwe gold mining reforms

Zimbabwe News, Mining, Gold Mining, Polite Kambamura, Economy, Small-Scale Mining, Investment, Minerals, NDS2, Business News