Mine for the Nation, Not for Yourself-VP Chiwenga Tells Miners

Post Senior Business Reporter

Bulawayo-Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has challenged the current generation to rethink its relationship with the country’s natural resources, saying they are merely custodians, not the ultimate owners.

He called for an immediate end to irresponsible mining driven by personal gain, insisting that the nation’s mineral endowment must be preserved so that the future generations can also benefit from country`s mineral wealth.

VP Chiwenga said this on Thursday while officiating at the 2025 edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport Expo(Mine Entra) held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES).

This year`s event ran under the theme : “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining.”

The event is jointly organized by Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) company, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Miners Federation.

The call by Vice President Chiwenga comes amidst a significant surge in artisanal mining across the country.

Driven by economic needs and the high value of minerals like gold, many locals have flocked to the sector.

This boom, however, has raised serious concerns about environmental damage, lost tax revenue, smuggling and unsustainable practices.

“It requires that every time every kilogram, every gram is extracted, it should translate into job creation, ”he said.

“To the miners who are here today and those who do not come, you are the custodian of our mineral wealth.

“Handle it with integrity. It is not yours. It is for the people of this country. It is for the future generations of this country. Exploit it responsibly and protect it as a national trust, not a personal gain.

“Our trust as government is to ensure everyone benefits from the mining sector including future generations. We here, in the current generation, we are not the alphas and omega.

“They are future generations to come, they also need to survive and they need these minerals,” said VP Chiwenga.

He stressed that mining remains the backbone of the economy, contributing over 70 percent of export earnings and 14.5 percent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) supporting the livelihoods of thousands of our people and engaging industrial development.

“ Mining remains the backbone of our economy, contributing over 70 percent of export earnings. 14.5 percent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) supporting the livelihoods of thousands of our people and engaging industrial development, “he said.

VP Chiwenga described the Mine Entra conference is not merely an annual gathering but a strategic convening of minds shaping the future of the nation`s mining, engineering, and transport sectors.

“It provides a platform for robust dialogue, innovation and sustainable investment in one of Zimbabwe’s most vital industries. From the coalfields of Hwange to the gold belts of Penhalonga and platinum corridors of the Great Dykes, our nation is abundantly blessed.

“As we pursue Vision 2030 and transitioning from the National Development Strategy 1 to the National Development Strategy 2, the mining sector remains pivotal to national aspirations,” said VP Chiwenga.

He added that this year`s theme is both visionary and timely as it challenges the country to re-imagine mining, to move beyond the traditional model of resource exploitation and embrace a future defined by beneficiation, innovation and community empowerment.

“Beyond extraction demands that we move from exporting finished products. It requires that every tonne extracted translate into jobs created, industries built and communities transformed. We must embed beneficiation and value addition as non-negotiable principles of our mining strategy,” said VP Chiwenga.

He emphasized that Zimbabwe was still open for business but not for extraction.

“To investors, both local and international, Zimbabwe remains open for business, not for extraction. We seek mutual partnerships that ensure the minerals beneath our soil empower our people.

“We are mordensing our regulatory frameworks and aligning with global best practices. The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, now gazette, modernizes our mining regime. It dovetails with global best practices by enforcing accountability, transparency and corporate social responsibility.

“It ensures that every investor operates ethically, every projects benefits communities, and every operation, protects the environment. It will result in mining translating into tangible benefits to communities through development of schools, clinics roads and sustainable livelihoods,” VP Chiwenga said.

In addition, he added that Government will implement strict regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure that corruption within the mining sector is effectively addressed and eradicated.

“Corruption, illicit trading and leakages are cancers that erode public trust, distort markets and deprive citizens of their rightful benefits. In that regard, I challenge the responsible authorities and Ministries Department and Agencies(MDAs) to put in place mechanisms that enhance transparency of the processes for licensing, monitoring and enforcing compliance among mining companies.

“Regular audits, community engagement initiatives, public reporting and whistle-blower protection will become integral to our governance architecture Chiwenga.

He commended the recent commissioning of strategic projects such as the Palm River Energy Metallurgical Plant and the Zimplants Smelter Expansion and Abatement Project.

“These are milestones that anchor beneficiation and energy self-sufficiency. However, our ambition goes further, we need to build a fully integrated mining value chain that feeds into manufacturing, energy and competitiveness.

“To this end, I urge greater collaboration between mining houses and research institutions, leveraging geospatial mapping, artificial intelligence and automation to improve efficiency, traceability and transparency,” Chiwenga said.