Zimbabwe’s mining sector has recorded a rise in fatalities during the first quarter of 2026, with 64 artisanal and small-scale miners losing their lives in a six percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The figures, presented by Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura during a workshop for ministry inspectors, highlight persistent safety challenges in one of the country’s most important economic sectors.

Officials say the increase comes even as the industry posts strong production growth in gold, lithium and other minerals.

Ground collapses remained the single biggest cause of death.

Shaft and tunnel failures killed 35 miners and accounted for 54 percent of all fatalities in the quarter.

Improper use of explosives and gassing incidents contributed to 25 percent of the deaths.

Falls into abandoned and unsecured shafts were responsible for another 15 percent.

Electrocution and equipment-related accidents made up the remaining six percent.

Addressing ministry inspectors, Hon Kambamura said production numbers should not overshadow the human cost of unsafe mining.

He stated that the focus must be on lives lost rather than output figures.

“The figures that must command our attention this morning are not the figures of production. They are the figures of loss,” Hon Kambamura said.

The Minister argued that most of the deaths could have been avoided if safety procedures were followed and regulations were properly enforced.

He emphasized that stronger adherence to safe practices and stricter oversight are needed to reduce the toll across mining communities.

Government has already taken steps to improve safety training among small-scale miners.

Hon Kambamura noted that more than 500 artisanal and small-scale miners have received training in basic safety practices and environmental management as part of efforts to lower accident rates.

He also instructed mining inspectors to tighten enforcement against illegal and unsafe activities.

The directive targets riverbed mining, operations without valid mining titles and work that puts public infrastructure at risk.

The rise in fatalities comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s mining industry is expanding rapidly.

Strong performance in gold and lithium has boosted output and revenue, but authorities say growth will not be sustainable if safety standards lag behind.

Artisanal and small-scale mining supports thousands of livelihoods across the country and contributes significantly to gold deliveries to the central bank.

However, the sector is also marked by informal operations, limited capital and frequent use of rudimentary methods that increase the risk of collapses and accidents.

Ground falls have long been the leading cause of death in small-scale mining, reflecting the lack of proper shaft support, poor geological assessment and pressure to dig deeper in pursuit of ore.

Explosives mishandling and exposure to toxic gases remain persistent hazards where training and equipment are inadequate.

Hon Kambamura’s remarks signal renewed pressure on inspectors to move beyond routine checks and take stronger action against unsafe practices.

With more miners entering the sector during the current commodity upswing, the risk of further fatalities will grow unless enforcement keeps pace.

The government’s training drive for artisanal miners is intended to address part of the problem by improving awareness of basic safety and environmental management.

But officials acknowledge that training alone is not enough without consistent monitoring and penalties for non-compliance.

As Zimbabwe pushes to grow mining’s contribution to the economy, the first quarter death toll serves as a warning that production gains must be matched by improvements in worker safety.

For mining communities, the priority now is to ensure that the drive for minerals does not continue to come at the cost of lives that could have been saved.