Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale miners contributed nearly 70% of the country’s gold deliveries during the first half of 2026, cementing their position as the backbone of the gold sector as the government pledged to expand support through formalisation, financing and access to modern mining equipment and technology.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 Mine Entra exhibition at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) on Friday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the sector remained central to Zimbabwe’s mining industry and export earnings.
“A total of 21.7 tonnes of gold was delivered between January and June 2026. Once again, our small-scale miners stood as the nucleus of the control centre, contributing 14.9 tonnes of that 21.7-tonne total,” he said.
The figures show that artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for almost 69% of all gold deliveries during the six-month period.
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Kambamura said the government would continue prioritising policies to strengthen the sector, which he said supports the livelihoods of more than 1.5 million Zimbabweans.
“Formalising, financing, equipping and supporting this vital community which sustains the livelihoods of well over 1.5 million Zimbabweans remains our priority,” he said.
He said the government had reserved the small and medium-scale gold mining subsector for indigenous Zimbabweans as part of efforts to broaden participation in the country’s mineral economy.
“In recognition of this strategic importance, Government has reserved the small and medium-scale gold mining subsector for Black local Zimbabweans,” he said.
Kambamura said the policy was intended to ensure Zimbabweans benefited directly from the country’s mineral wealth while encouraging foreign investors with the capital and technical expertise required for exploration, large-scale mining and mineral beneficiation.
“This policy is intended to place our people at the centre of an accessible part of the mineral economy while encouraging foreign investors with substantial capital, technology and technical expertise to invest in exploration, large-scale mining and beneficiation,” he said.
He said empowering small-scale miners required more than granting mining rights and should include improving safety, environmental compliance, access to affordable finance and modern equipment, and promoting lawful gold marketing.
“In implementing this policy, we remain conscious of the fact that empowerment must be supported by capability, safety, environmental responsibility, lawful gold marketing and access to affordable finance, modern equipment and technology,” he said.
Kambamura said Zimbabwe’s mining industry was on track to exceed its 2026 revenue targets after recording strong export earnings in the first half of the year.
“Total mineral export earnings, including gold, reached approximately US$5.73 billion during the first half of 2026,” he said.
He said gold exports generated US$3.25 billion, while other minerals contributed US$2.73 billion.
“At this rate, we expect to surpass both our annual target for 2026 and the US$8.6 billion in mineral revenues recorded by December 2025. This demonstrates significant sectoral growth,” he said.
The minister said Zimbabwe was accelerating efforts to beneficiate its minerals to retain more value within the country.
“We are moving away from exporting high mineral volumes of low value to exporting small mineral volumes of high value,” he said.
He said the government’s ban on the export of unbeneficiated minerals, introduced in February 2026, was aimed at boosting domestic value addition.
“Zimbabwe cannot and will not continue to export its raw wealth only to import finished value at a much higher cost,” he said.
Kambamura also urged mining companies to increase procurement from local suppliers, saying domestic businesses currently account for only about 15% of the sector’s expenditure.
“We need to work hand in glove to ensure that over 50% of the sector’s costs are consumed through local procurement,” he said.
He highlighted several beneficiation projects already under way, including the Dinson integrated iron and steel project, the Arcadia Lithium Zimbabwe lithium sulphate plant and processing investments by Kamativi Mining Company and Sino Mine Bikita.
The minister said government was also modernising the sector’s regulatory framework through amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act and the introduction of a computerised mining cadastral system expected before the end of the year.
“We are finalising the mine title administration through the computerised mining cadastral system. Investors will be able to establish which ground is available, who holds mining rights, where the boundaries are and what obligations are attached to them,” he said.
Kambamura said the reforms would improve transparency, reduce disputes over mining claims and ensure mineral rights were allocated to credible investors.
He said Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth should ultimately improve the lives of communities living in mining areas.
“A gram of gold mined, a tonne of lithium extracted, a pound of steel produced, and a carat of diamond cut and polished should benefit the community in Muzarabani, should benefit the community in Gwanda, should benefit the community in Mwenezi. That is leaving no one and no place behind.”
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