Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
MUTAPA Gold Resources (MGR) plans to expand a successful artisanal mining partnership model across its operations as it seeks to increase gold production, boost official deliveries and integrate more small-scale miners into the formal mining sector.
The State-owned mining company believes Zimbabwe’s greatest opportunity for growing gold output lies in supporting artisanal and small-scale miners, who account for the bulk of the country’s gold production.
Speaking during the company’s trading update and dividend declaration event last week, MGR chief executive officer Mr Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya said the company intends to replicate an artisanal mining initiative first introduced at Elvington Mine two years ago.
Under the programme, artisanal miners are provided with equipment, technical support, mining expertise, safety training and access to mineralised areas that are not suitable for conventional large-scale mining operations.
“We started this artisanal mining project at Elvington Mine two years ago.
“Where we work with artisanal miners, we make sure that they are resourced and we make sure that they’ve got everything that they need to mine.
“They’ve got the skills to guide them in terms of proper mining and the result has been amazing in terms of what they can achieve if they are adequately resourced and supported,” he said.
The initiative comes at a time when artisanal and small-scale miners have become the backbone of Zimbabwe’s gold industry.
The sector contributes about 60 percent of the country’s gold output and has played a critical role in driving record production levels in recent years.
Zimbabwe delivered a record 46,7 tonnes of gold to Fidelity Gold Refinery last year, surpassing the previous high of 36,5 tonnes achieved in 2023.
Of the 46,7 tonnes delivered, artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for 34,87 tonnes, highlighting the sector’s growing importance to the country’s mining industry and foreign currency earnings.
Mr Maseva-Shayawabaya said Mutapa views artisanal miners as strategic partners rather than competitors.
“They say the artisanal miners produce plus or minus 70 percent of Zimbabwe’s gold.
“We not only would like to help them to increase that, we also would like to benefit from that.”
The partnership model has already begun generating revenue for the company.
Figures presented during the trading update showed that artisanal mining activities contributed US$5 million during the nine months to December 2025 and a further US$3 million during the three months to March 2026.
“So it’s not a charity, we are helping each other with artisanal,” said Mr Maseva-Shayawabaya.
He said the company intends to extend the model to other operations, including areas around Freda Rebecca, Jena and Shamva mines.
“So eventually we’ll have your Shamva, Freda and Jena running the conventional mining as they normally do, but also having artisanal mining wings.”
If successfully rolled out, the model could provide a blueprint for integrating thousands of artisanal miners into formal production systems, increasing official gold deliveries and strengthening Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings.
Meanwhile, Mutapa Gold Resources has declared its inaugural dividend of US$35 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2025, following a strong financial and operational performance.
Under the dividend distribution, parent company Mutapa Investment Fund received US$22,5 million.
Other shareholders also benefited, with Datvest receiving US$4,37 million, the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe receiving US$2,63 million, and the Public Service Commission Pension Fund receiving US$2,45 million.
The Insurance and Pensions Commission and the Deposit Protection Corporation each received US$1,75 million.
