The Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe (CoMZ) has identified small-scale miners as the main contributors to the sector’s ZWG$684.8 million (US$45.6 million) debt to ZESA. This debt, 12% of ZESA’s total receivables, highlights financial strain amid unreliable power supply.
Chamber President Thomas Gono attributes the arrears to small-scale miners with pre-supply agreements and urges timely bill payments to support ZESA. In response, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) advises adopting prepaid smart meters.
Despite these issues, gold production is up. Artisanal and small-scale miners delivered 2.4 tonnes in August, a 50% increase from July, contributing to a 36% rise in overall gold deliveries. The government targets 40 tonnes of gold for 2024 and aims to boost revenue to US$4 billion.
