New mining policy in Zimbabwe to strip operators of licences

Zimbabwe is preparing to introduce one of its toughest enforcement regimes yet for the mining sector, with companies set to lose their licences if they fail to meet environmental standards.

• Zimbabwe is preparing a sweeping reform that could strip mining companies of their licences for environmental violations.
• Mines Minister Winston Chitando says the new Responsible Mining Initiative Part 2 will enforce stricter oversight and rehabilitation requirements.
• Communities and civil society groups have long criticised the sector for pollution, unsafe practices, and lack of accountability.
• The government says the more rigid rules aim to safeguard ecosystems while ensuring mining supports sustainable national development.

The upcoming Responsible Mining Initiative Part 2, announced by Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, will impose legally binding penalties on firms that neglect land rehabilitation or breach ecological regulations.

Speaking to the local outlet NewsDay, Chitando said the goal is to confront environmental damage more decisively, adding that the new phase “will address head-on the issues relating to environmental damage, which will include loss of mining title.”

His comments reflect rising public frustration over pollution, deforestation, and harmful mining practices that have scarred communities across the country.

Mining remains Zimbabwe’s most lucrative export sector, contributing more than 60 percent of foreign earnings through gold, platinum, and lithium production.

However, decades of weak oversight have allowed both artisanal and industrial operators to leave behind polluted rivers, abandoned pits, and degraded land, particularly in Manicaland, Midlands, and Mashonaland West.

Local communities have repeatedly raised concerns about toxic waste, unsafe working conditions, and the absence of accountability.

Civil society organisations have accused authorities of failing to enforce court rulings and protecting politically connected operators who continue to operate with minimal scrutiny.

Many rivers once relied upon for farming and domestic use have turned into sludge, destroying crops and livelihoods.

Chitando said the forthcoming framework will shift the sector from voluntary compliance to strict enforcement. It will strengthen coordination with the Environmental Management Agency and require miners to submit rehabilitation and mine-closure plans before any extraction can begin.

The government says the reforms are intended to protect ecosystems and ensure that mining contributes to long-term national development rather than environmental decline.