Online Reporter
Oliver Kazunga
Senior Reporter
CALEDONIA Mining Corporation says recent exploration results at its Motapa project in Matabeleland North have revealed significant gold mineralisation, strengthening prospects for an expanded mining complex that could enhance production and extend the life of the proposed Bilboes Gold Project.
The company said drilling undertaken during its 2025 exploration programme confirmed extensive gold mineralisation across multiple zones at Motapa, which lies adjacent to the Bilboes Gold Project in the Bubi Greenstone Belt.
The findings are expected to bolster the economics of the Bilboes development and support long-term growth plans for one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped gold projects.
In a statement, Caledonia chief executive officer Mr Mark Learmonth said the latest results highlighted the strategic importance of the Motapa project.
“These promising results from Motapa demonstrate the potential to significantly enhance the long-term value of our Bilboes project,” he said.
“The consistent high-grade intersections at Motapa North highlight the opportunity to define a substantial resource in close proximity to the planned infrastructure at Bilboes.”
“While our immediate focus remains the development of Bilboes, targeting first gold in Q4 2028, Motapa represents a compelling opportunity to extend mine life and increase future production across a combined mining complex.”
The mining group, whose local flagship is Blanket Mine in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, is advancing plans for a major open-pit mining operation at Bilboes based on proven and probable reserves of 1,75 million ounces of gold contained in 24,1 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2,26 grammes per tonne.
Caledonia said drilling at Motapa has confirmed the continuity of mineralisation over a strike length of about six kilometres and identified multiple mineralised shear zones across Motapa North, Central and South.
The exploration programme also established the presence of both oxide and sulphide mineralisation, which could support both near-term and long-term mine development opportunities.
The close proximity of Motapa to Bilboes presents opportunities for shared infrastructure and operational synergies, potentially reducing capital costs and improving project economics.
And based on the encouraging results, Caledonia expects to publish a maiden mineral resource estimate for portions of Motapa during the third quarter of 2026.
The resource estimate is expected to be a key milestone in determining the project’s contribution to the broader Bilboes development strategy.
The company believes the discovery could evolve into a strategic extension of the Bilboes mining property, helping unlock additional value from the wider Bubi Greenstone Belt.
Mining remains one of Zimbabwe’s key economic sectors, generating the bulk of export earnings and attracting significant investment into gold, lithium, platinum and other mineral projects.
The latest exploration success at Motapa comes as the country seeks to increase mineral production, attract fresh capital and leverage its vast mineral resources to drive economic growth under Vision 2030.
