Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
IN a sign of a major boost for the country’s mining sector, London and Victoria Falls-listed exploration and mining group Kavango Resources has outlined an ambitious plan to produce 8 000 ounces of gold per annum from its projects in the Filabusi Greenstone Belt by the end of 2027.
In a recent investor presentation, the company highlighted its first-mover advantage in the underexplored greater Bulawayo greenstone area, which it considers capable of hosting several world-class gold deposits.
Zimbabwe’s 22 Archean greenstone belts have historically produced over 60 million ounces of gold.
“Kavango’s objective is to mine multiple ore bodies in parallel,” the company said. It underscored its strategy to build a significant, cash-flow-generative gold operation in the region.
Central to this plan is the phased development of processing plants. The company is in the process of constructing a 50-tonne-per-day (tpd) carbon-in-leach (CIL) pilot plant at its Hillside Gold Project, with commissioning expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
“This plant is targeting an initial annual production of approximately 2000 ounces. The company plans to commission a larger 200tpd gravity gold recovery and CIL plant, with production expected to commence by the first half of 2027,” reads the presentation.
The company noted that metallurgical testing indicates excellent gold recovery rates of over 95 percent.
Furthermore, Kavango has made significant inroads in Zimbabwe, securing a commanding position in the Filabusi Belt. The company owns 100 percent of the Hillside Gold Project and has exercised its option to acquire 100 percent of the adjacent Nara Gold Project.
Both assets are fully permitted mining leases, held in perpetuity through production.
The company’s commitment is further evidenced by a US$5 million investment from the Comarton Consortium of Zimbabwe Pension Funds, completed at a 25 percent premium to the market price.
The company’s production timeline is supported by a pipeline of specific projects.
“The Bill’s Luck mine is already operational and undergoing expansion to feed the new processing plants, with recent drilling revealing a larger gold system than previously understood.
“At the Nightshift prospect, the company has established a maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 19 000 ounces, identifying it as a near-surface deposit with clear potential for open-pit mining,” reads the presentation.
Future development projects at Steenbok and Nara show considerable promise, with drilling at Nara confirming a mineralised strike length exceeding four kilometres and the potential for multiple mining operations.
The presentation highlights Kavango’s robust operational setup and local integration.
The company has cultivated extensive local relationships with traditional leadership, the Rural District Council, and small-scale miners.
Looking beyond initial production, Kavango is focused on the potential for modern, mechanised underground mining using spiral declines — a method perfected in Western Australia’s similar geology.
With a fully equity-financed structure, no debt and mining projects 100 percent owned, Kavango Resources is positioning itself as a serious and well-funded player in the revival of Zimbabwe’s gold sector.
Its targeted 8 000-ounce annual production by 2027 represents a tangible step towards unlocking the vast potential of the Filabusi Greenstone Belt.
