Online Reporter
Emmanuel Kafe
GOVERNMENT’S ongoing reforms to formalise the mining sector have received a major boost with the rollout of the Gold Card system, a digital traceability and registration programme set to transform operations of artisanal and small-scale miners, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya has said.
The Second Republic’s sustained mining sector reforms are now yielding results, firmly establishing artisanal and small-scale miners as a critical pillar of the country’s economic recovery and growth.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Ms Rushwaya said the Gold Card system was a flagship initiative aligned with Government policy to bring order, transparency and value addition to the artisanal mining sector, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s gold output.
“The Gold Card system is a game-changer for our sector.
“It integrates artisanal miners into the formal economy, strengthens compliance and supports Government efforts to safeguard national gold resources,” she said.
Gold is Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earner, with artisanal and small-scale miners contributing between 60 and 70 percent of total production.
Ms Rushwaya said formalising the sector through the Gold Card would enhance deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery and improve revenue collection, directly supporting economic stability.
The Gold Card will serve as a biometric digital identity for registered miners, capturing production data and claim information while creating a traceable chain of custody from mine to refinery.
This, she said, would ensure Zimbabwe’s gold meets international responsible sourcing and environmental, social and governance standards.
“The system gives confidence to Government, buyers and financiers that our gold is legally produced and ethically sourced,” Ms Rushwaya said.
She said the initiative complemented Government’s broader drive to modernise the mining sector under the Second Republic, which has prioritised formalisation, safety and productivity. Through the Gold Card, miners will gain access to formal services, fair pricing mechanisms and structured support programmes, while Government benefits from improved planning, monitoring and policy implementation. Ms Rushwaya said provincial ZMF executives had been tasked with mobilising miners for registration and piloting the system, ensuring nationwide adoption.
“As miners, we are fully aligned with Government’s vision,” she said.
“The Gold Card system ensures transparency, accountability and growth in a sector that underpins Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings.” ZMF has resolved to immediately roll out pilot programmes for the Gold Card system, with a view to scaling it nationally as part of Government’s efforts to strengthen the gold value chain and accelerate progress towards Vision 2030. Ms Rushwaya said the consistent deliveries by small-scale miners were now playing a decisive role in strengthening the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency and supporting macroeconomic stability.
She said Government’s clear policy direction, supported by close collaboration with institutions such as Fidelity Gold Refinery, had ensured fair pricing, improved payment systems and increased confidence among miners.
“Government has demonstrated that when miners are supported with the right policies, they deliver,” she said. ZMF outlined its 2026 roadmap, which aligns fully with Government’s national development priorities and Vision 2030, focusing on formalisation, increased productivity and responsible sourcing.
Ms Rushwaya said the inclusion of women and youth in the mining sector was in line with Government’s inclusive development agenda, ensuring broad-based participation in economic growth.
Bongani Ndlovu