Small-scale gold miners are the backbone of Zimbabwe’s gold production and have the potential to double the country’s output within three years if properly supported, says Paul Man’ombe, Senior Manager Technical Services – Mining at Mimosa Mine.
Speaking at the 2025 Minex Southern Region Expo, Man’ombe described small-scale operations as “small in name, but big in impact,” pointing out that 24 of the 36 tons of gold produced last year came from small-scale miners — representing a significant 65% contribution to national output.
Man’ombe believes that with innovations such as centralized storage, optimized pump use, and solar-powered operations, the sector can boost production from 24 tons to 50 tons within three years.
“We are underproducing by at least 25% simply because we don’t mine all year round,” he noted. “With proper systems and technology, we can increase output with the same effort.”
He stressed the importance of professionalizing the industry for sustainability and intergenerational continuity. “At some point, we have to retire, but we must leave proper structures and documentation for the next generation,” he said.
Man’ombe also called for thorough evaluation of mining claims — not just technically, but also economically, socially, and environmentally. “It’s not a new thing; we just need to complete the circle. Every claim can be evaluated to know its lifespan and economic potential.”
He emphasized that high gold prices should encourage miners to revisit and extract value from medium and low-grade claims they’ve already invested in, rather than chasing new ventures unnecessarily.
The mining executive’s remarks added to growing calls at the expo for a more structured, data-driven, and sustainable approach to small-scale mining — a sector increasingly recognized as critical to Zimbabwe’s economic growth.
