Johnson Progress

The Zimbabwean government has immediately barred foreign nationals and wholly foreign-owned entities from participating in small-scale gold mining, reserving the sub-sector exclusively for indigenous citizens and local companies.

The new regulations, announced by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Polite Kambamura, take immediate effect and represent one of the most aggressive moves yet to localise the country’s artisanal and small-scale mining industry.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Dr Kambamura emphasised that the reforms are designed to ensure Zimbabweans derive greater benefit from the nation’s mineral wealth.

“Government remains committed to maintaining an open, secure, and investment-friendly environment for responsible foreign investment,” the minister said, while clarifying that this commitment now explicitly excludes foreign players from the small-scale category.

Under the new framework, foreign investors currently operating in small-scale gold mining have been granted a transitional period until January 1, 2027, to either scale up or exit.

The policy stipulates that affected operators must increase production beyond 20 kilogrammes of gold per month or recapitalise their investments above US$15 million to qualify as large-scale miners.

Failure to meet these thresholds by the deadline will mean mandatory divestment.

The government also introduced stringent compliance measures targeting transparency and accountability.

Dr Kambamura underscored that all gold produced must be marketed through authorised channels.

He added that mining firms are now required to maintain proper financial records while adhering to taxation, environmental, labour, and safety regulations.

In a further move to localise industry leadership, the minister directed that senior and middle management positions at gold mines must comprise 98 percent Zimbabwean nationals.

“We expect immediate compliance to this call,” he warned.

Additionally, the government signalled a crackdown on speculative holding of mining assets.

Dr Kambamura cautioned that idle foreign-owned gold mining assets would come under scrutiny, urging owners to develop them or risk state action.

He also ordered all heap leaching gold mines to register with his office and declare monthly production and elution plant data.

The reforms, aligned with the National Development Strategy 2, aim to curb mineral leakages, formalise indigenous enterprises, and ensure the country’s gold wealth directly fuels national economic development.