By Simbarashe Muparaganda
Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe is shifting decisively from exporting raw minerals to producing higher-value mineral products, with the country on course to exceed the record US$8,6 billion it earned from mineral export last year, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said this on Friday while delivering his keynote address at the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) Expo at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo, held under the theme “Unearth, Transform, Prosper – Accelerating Economic Transformation through Mineral Value Chains”.
“The mining industry is now entering a new phase driven by beneficiation, value addition and industrialisation,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe generated approximately US$5.7 billion in mineral export earnings during the first half of this year, with gold contributing US$3.25 billion and other minerals accounting for US$2.7 billion, putting the sector on course to surpass the record US$8.6 billion realised last year.
“At this rate, we expect to surpass the US$8.6 billion mineral revenues recorded by December 2025. This demonstrates significant sectoral growth,” he said, adding the new mining strategy prioritised value over volume.
Kambamura said gold remained one of the strongest performers in the sector, with 21,7 tons delivered between January and June this year, driven largely by artisanal and small-scale miners.
“A total of 21,7 tons of gold was delivered between January and June 2026. Once again, our small-scale miners stood at the centre of this achievement,” he said.
He said the government remains committed to formalising, financing and equipping small-scale miners, noting that the subsector supported the livelihoods of more than 1,5 million Zimbabweans.
Kambamura said the country’s beneficiation drive is already producing tangible results, citing the commissioning of the first lithium sulphate plant of its kind in Africa.
“This development establishes the foundation for the country to progress towards battery chemicals, energy storage systems and other products required by the global transition to cleaner energy,” he said,adding similar investments are being promoted across mineral-rich regions in the country through specialised mineral processing hubs.
“Where we find iron ore there should be integrated steel plants, and where we find coal the same principle should apply,” he said.
Kambamura said the government has adopted a major policy shift on strategic minerals, classifying mineral resources into critical, special critical and strategic minerals to safeguard national interests, adding the move would see the government taking a leading role in the development of selected strategic resources.
“We have declared our coal a special critical mineral. Government will be repossessing concessions from those holding them for speculative purposes and entering into strategic partnerships to fully develop our coal resources,” he said, adding the long-term vision is to transform the country into a regional energy producer through coal-based industrial projects.
“The goal is to become a nation that exports power, gas and petroleum products. Coal-to-liquid fuels will position us for fuel self-sufficiency and fertiliser production,” he said.
To improve investor confidence, Kambamura said, the government is accelerating reforms aimed at modernising the mining sector.
Kambamura said amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act are expected to be finalised before the end of the year, while the rollout of a computerised mining cadastre system will improve transparency and strengthen security of mining titles.
“Investors will be able to establish which ground is available, who holds what mining rights, where the boundaries are and what obligations are attached to those rights. This will reduce mining risk, improve licensing efficiency and ensure prospective ground is allocated to credible investors,” he said.
He said the government is also investing heavily in geological exploration through a high-resolution national geophysical survey to unlock new mineral discoveries and attract fresh investment into the sector.
“Every ounce of gold mined, every tonne of lithium extracted, every pound of steel produced and every carat of diamond cut and polished should benefit the communities of Zimbabwe,” the minister said.
New Ziana
