Zimbabwe to roll out training for small-scale miners

Published: 7 hours ago

The Zimbabwean government has announced plans to roll out a nationwide training programme for small-scale miners as part of efforts to formalise the sector and boost gold production.

Mines Minister Polite Kambamura revealed the initiative while addressing a graduation ceremony for 300 artisanal miners in Chegutu on Thursday.

The programme, currently being piloted at Elvington Mine under Mutapa Gold Resources, is expected to expand to all provinces through a "mobile mining schools" model that delivers training directly to mining communities.

"My ministry, working together with the Zimbabwe School of Mines and willing private partners, will roll out this model nationally," Kambamura said.

Kambamura underscored the growing importance of artisanal and small-scale miners, describing the subsector as central to Zimbabwe's mining economy.

"The artisanal small-scale mining sector is no longer peripheral. It consistently delivers more than 60 percent of gold to Fidelity Gold Refinery and sustains hundreds of thousands of livelihoods," he said.

The minister linked the initiative to Zimbabwe's ambition to build a US$12 billion mining industry, stressing that such growth cannot be achieved without formalising and empowering small-scale miners.

The 300 graduates completed intensive training focused on safety, compliance, environmental management and productivity. Authorities say the certification will act as a gateway into the formal mining economy.

"The certificate each graduate is receiving today is a passport to formality… an obligation to mine responsibly," Kambamura said.

Principal Edwin Gwaze said the programme comes at a time when small-scale miners dominate gold output.

He noted that the subsector contributed about 75 percent of gold deliveries to Fidelity last year, driving a record 34.9 tonnes out of the country's total 46.7 tonnes in 2025.

"Today marks a defining moment… a transition from the shadows of informality to the light of professional excellence," Gwaze said.

The latest cohort included 148 women, highlighting a notable shift in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

"We have proven that the grit and determination required to succeed in this industry are not bound by gender," Gwaze added.

Patrick Museva Shayawabaya, chief executive of Mutapa Gold Resources, said the initiative signals a broader policy shift towards integrating, rather than excluding, artisanal miners.

"Gone are the days when we used to chase them away. We now see them as partners," he said, adding that the Elvington model will be replicated in other mining areas such as Jena and Bindura.

The programme is funded by Mutapa Gold Resources and is expected to improve safety standards, reduce accidents and increase gold recovery rates.

Kambamura said government will soon deploy mining development officers in every district to ensure compliance and provide ongoing technical support.

"It's now time that we mine responsibly," he said, reaffirming that formalisation of small-scale mining remains a key pillar of Zimbabwe's economic agenda.
- online

Tags: Miners,