Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business
ZIMBABWE is moving faster than most African countries in phasing out the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), a senior Government official has said.
In 2013, Zimbabwe became a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury—a global treaty aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating mercury use—and formally acceded to the Convention on August 19, 2021.
Currently, about 96 percent of artisanal gold production in Zimbabwe is still linked to mercury use.
However, authorities say ongoing interventions and technical support are expected to drastically reduce reliance on the toxic substance.
Mercury contaminates soil, water and air, while posing serious health risks to miners and communities who come into contact with it.
Zimbabwe’s National Action Plan released in 2019 sets out national-level commitments to address the challenges faced.
It also emphasises the need for strong cooperation among government agencies, ASGM associations and other stakeholders to promote responsible mining practices and improve the health and safety of communities.
Speaking at the planetGOLD Zimbabwe Annual Stakeholders Conference 2025 in Harare yesterday, held under the theme “Building Together for a Sustainable ASGM Sector,” Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Michael Munodawafa, said Zimbabwe was on course to meet its mercury reduction targets.
“We are also trying to eliminate the use of mercury. But I think we are moving very, very, very fast as a country.
“We are moving faster than most of the other countries.
“Regarding the reduction in the use of mercury, our target is 4.8 tonnes and I think we can surpass that. We are moving in that direction,” he said.
Mr Munodawafa said the Government remained committed to both formalising the artisanal mining sector and reducing mercury use.
“The Ministry also recognises the pivotal role being played by artisanal and small-scale miners in creating employment for the gold sector.
“Most of our artisanal miners may currently be informal, but we are aiming through the help of planetGOLD to move them into responsible, inclusive and sustainable miners,” he said.
PlanetGOLD project manager Nyaradzo Mutonhori said the project’s focus was on mercury reduction through a holistic, multi-sectoral and integrated formalisation approach.
“Our first component of the project is the formalisation component and our second component is about access to finance through responsible practices,” she said.
“This is where we identify groups of artisanal and small-scale miners, help them build responsible mining practices and ensure legal compliance so that we have a mercury-free gold supply chain.
“Our third component is enhancing uptake of mercury-free technologies so that we meet our target of mercury reduction and exceed it. And our fourth component is around communications and knowledge.”
Ms Mutonhori said improved access to finance and technology adoption were essential to achieving a mercury-free gold sector.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Edward Samuriwo, Director of Environment, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Ambassador Tedious Chifamba, stressed the need to simplify access to technical assistance.
“Despite advances, many miners still operate outside the legal framework. Simplifying licensing and improving access to technical assistance must remain a top priority.
“Many small-scale miners, especially women and youth, continue to face barriers in accessing capital. The financial ecosystem must evolve to accommodate their realities.”
“Demonstration and validation of mercury-free technologies must now move from plans to pilot implementation. Success depends on greater synergy across the government, private sector, and community partners,” Ambassador Chifamba said.
The meeting comes at a time when small-scale miners continue to outperform large mining houses in gold deliveries.
Official figures show that gold deliveries surged by 37 percent to 32.98 tonnes in the first nine months of this year, up from 24.2 tonnes during the same period last year — putting Zimbabwe on track to meet its 40-tonne national target.
However, concerns have been raised over unfair practices in the gold industry.
A recent Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development report noted that some large-scale miners were allegedly manipulating payment models designed to support artisanal operations.
The committee found that while small-scale miners remain the backbone of Zimbabwe’s gold economy, some large producers were exploiting incentives such as the five percent tax rebate and 100 percent foreign currency payments for deliveries, tilting the playing field against smaller producers.
Between 2020 and 2024, small-scale miners consistently outperformed large producers.
In 2020, they delivered 15 tonnes compared to 10.5 tonnes from large-scale operators, representing 59 percent of total output.
The trend continued in subsequent years — 16.5 tonnes against 11 tonnes in 2021, 17.8 tonnes against 11.8 tonnes in 2022, and 18.6 tonnes against 11.4 tonnes in 2023.
The most dramatic gap came in 2024, when small-scale producers delivered 23.7 tonnes, nearly double the 12.7 tonnes from large-scale operators — accounting for two-thirds of the country’s total 36.4 tonnes that year.
