Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe’s mining sector have expressed skepticism about the government’s commitment to implementing responsible mining, as outlined in the 2025 National Budget. They warn that the initiative is likely to fail due to the entrenched interests of the ruling elite and a lack of political will to enforce meaningful reforms.
Responsible mining refers to the ethical and sustainable extraction of minerals in ways that minimise environmental degradation, provide worker safety and benefit local communities.
It also includes demands transparency and accountability at every stage of the mining process.
During the presentation of the 2025 National Budget, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, acknowledged the widespread violation of mining and environmental laws across Zimbabwe but emphasised the government’s intent to promote responsible mining as a solution to these challenges.
He highlighted that these violations are contributing to financial losses and environmental degradation.
“In this regard, the Government will intensify awareness and the enforcement of the responsible mining initiative to ensure compliance with the country’s laws and curbing illegal mining,” said the minister.
Prof. Ncube said as part of the implementation of this initiative, Government will also establish audit teams, comprising various Ministries, Agents and Departments (MDAs), including Mines and Mining Development, Environment, Climate and Wildlife, as well as Local Government and Public Works, to conduct thorough Investigations into mining operations, to assess the activities of mining companies and identify any non-compliant mining activities.
However, Director of the Center for Natural Resource Governance, Farai Maguwu, bemoaned that the Ministry of Mines has completely lost control of the mining sector.
“Mining, by its very nature, is always destructive. However, in Zimbabwe, it is now catastrophic because everyone wants to mine and the Ministry of Mines has completely lost control of the sector in terms of both environmental crimes and illicit financial flows,” he said.
Maguwu said the proposed reforms won’t succeed because of the vested interests of the ruling elites in mining and the absence of the political will to do things right.
“For instance, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is well aware of the destruction taking place in Boterekwa, Shurugwi, but their hands are tied because of the individuals operating there in cahoots with the Chinese,” Maguwu said.
On a more positive note, Tafara Chiremba from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) commended the government for allocating resources towards the responsible mining audit.
“The responsible mining audit is a commendable initiative that may help the country to increase compliance of mining operations with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), make sure that communities benefit from resources located in their areas as in line with constitutional provisions. This means the issue of raising awareness but also capacity building of the miners to ensure that they comply with relevant mining and environmental laws is important,” he said.
Chiremba added, however, that the government should make the audit process more inclusive by involving civil society organizations (CSOs) as stakeholders and considering the publication of the results
“This will enhance transparency of the process and may result in de risking its investment climate. We also have an expectation that the Government should learn from the responsible Mining Audit and use the lessons to develop responsible mining standards or regulations which can be complied with by companies,” he said.
