Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ACTING President Costantino Chiwenga has spoke strongly against corruption in the mining sector in Zimbabwe, describing it as cancerous.
Chiwenga made the remarks during the official opening of the 28th Edition of Mine Entra 2025 conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
The expo is being held under the theme Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining.
In his address, Chiwenga said corruption in the mining sector robbed communities of tangible benefits that included development of schools, clinics and roads, among other social amenities.
“To the investors, both local and international, Zimbabwe remains open for business, not for extraction,” he said.
“We seek mutual partnerships that ensure the minerals beneath our soil empower all our people.
“In addition, the government will implement strict regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure 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.”
The government has set an ambitious plan to grow the mining sector to a US$12 billion economy by 2030.
Experts have, however, warned that government may fail to reach the target due to corruption and the constant threat of revenue leakages in the mining sector.
In 2023, Al Jazeera television network alleged that there was rampant corruption in Zimbabwe’s gold sector leading to unprecedented smuggling by politicians and the well-connected.
Transparency International said Zimbabwe was losing approximately US$1,8 billion in mining revenue annually, particularly through the smuggling of minerals and lack of transparency and accountability in revenue management.
A SWISSAID report titled On the Trail of African Gold: Quantifying Production and Trade to Combat Illicit Flows released in June 2024 said Zimbabwe was one of the top five African countries reportedly smuggling gold to the United Arab Emirates.
The report looked at how Africa “is the world’s main gold-producing continent” and “how the yellow metal plays an immense and contrasting role there”.
It further stated that of the 41 countries on the continent that were observed, Zimbabwe came second to Mali.
But in the Sadc region, statistics showed that Zimbabwe led the pack on undeclared gold, with South Africa coming second at about 25 000kg.
“Regular audits, community engagement initiatives, public reporting and whistleblower protection will become integral to our governance architecture,” Chiwenga said yesterday, adding that the gazetted Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill would modernise the sector.
“We are modernising our regulatory frameworks and aligning with global best practices.
“It dovetails with global best practices by enforcing accountability, transparency and corporate social responsibility.
“It ensures that every investor operates ethically, every project benefits communities, and every operation protects the environment.”
In an unrelated matter, President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said Zimbabwe was committed to regional integration and trade liberalisation.
He said this during the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State and Government Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
“To fully unlock Comesa’s potential, non-tariff barriers, infrastructure gaps and policy mis-alignments must be addressed,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is on a journey of economic transformation and modernisation.
“My government is implementing comprehensive reforms to improve the business environment, enhance empowerment, productivity and attract investment.”
He added: “Industrialisation, digital transformation and climate resilient agriculture are among our top priority areas.”
The Comesa summit brought together regional leaders, policymakers and development partners to assess the bloc’s progress and chart the way forward for deeper economic and political integration across eastern and southern Africa.
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