Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
SMALL-scale miners are increasingly shaping Zimbabwe’s gold sector, contributing significantly to national output while driving local employment and community development in mining areas.
With gold deliveries to Fidelity Refineries reaching record levels amid firm international prices, the small-scale mining segment has emerged as a critical pillar in the country’s push towards a multi-billion-dollar mining industry and the attainment of upper middle-income status by 2030.
At mining sites such as Hope Fountain, production activity reflects the growing capacity of small-scale operators who are investing in improved extraction and processing systems to scale up output.
“At full throttle, we are looking at producing between seven and 10kgs per month. With the processing systems we are using our production will be massive and we will comfortably churn out 30kgs every three months, so we are really excited,” miner Mr Mohammed Dakar said.
Beyond production figures, the sector is playing an important role in employment creation, particularly for young people, providing skills development and steady incomes in communities where formal job opportunities are limited.
“I work here as a surveyor and the income allows me to support my family,” one worker said.
“I got a job here and there are many others I work with; we are also learning how to operate new equipment,” another worker said.
Miners say their operations are increasingly being linked to broader community development initiatives, with a growing emphasis on ensuring that host communities directly benefit from mineral exploitation.
“The communities we work in must benefit. All our 65 employees are from Hope Fountain and by the time we get to our targeted 200, we will see a difference here. We have also agreed with the Minister and local authority to build a clinic while we have started on the roads,” small-scale miner Mr Dumisani Dube noted.
High prices, record gold deliveries, and a positive outlook for the industry have become critical contributors to achieving a national target of a multi-billion-dollar mining industry and an Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.
