Zimbabwe is aiming to cut nearly five tonnes of mercury use in its vast artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector over the next five years, a move officials say is critical to reducing environmental damage and protecting vulnerable communities exposed to the toxic metal.
Speaking at the MINEX 2026 in Zvishavane, Nyaradzo Mutonhori outlined an ambitious target to reduce mercury consumption by approximately 4.85 tonnes under the PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe project — an initiative aligned with the country’s commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
“We are targeting a significant reduction in mercury use over the next five years as part of a broader strategy to promote safer and more sustainable mining practices,” Mutonhori said.
The push comes as Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector continues to expand, employing more than 300,000 people and accounting for the bulk of gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery. While the sector has become a cornerstone of the country’s economy — and a vital source of export earnings — it remains heavily reliant on mercury, with officials estimating that up to 96 percent of mining sites use the chemical in gold extraction.
That reliance has raised alarm among health and environmental experts, who warn that mercury exposure can cause irreversible neurological damage, particularly among women and children involved in processing activities. Contamination of rivers and farmland has also emerged as a growing concern in mining communities, where mercury often enters ecosystems through unsafe handling and disposal practices.
The PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe project, implemented by IMPACT with funding from the Global Environment Facility, is targeting 11 mining districts and aims to assist about 7,500 miners in transitioning to mercury-free technologies. The program also seeks to formalize informal mining operations, improve access to financing, and strengthen compliance with environmental and mining regulations — longstanding challenges in a sector that has operated largely outside formal structures.
Zimbabwe’s National Action Plan for ASGM lays out a framework to reduce mercury emissions, promote safer gold processing methods, and enhance coordination between government agencies and industry stakeholders. Officials say success will depend not only on enforcement, but also on providing miners with viable, affordable alternatives to mercury-based techniques.
The stakes are high. Mining remains Zimbabwe’s leading export sector, and policymakers are increasingly under pressure to balance economic output with environmental sustainability and public health.
At MINEX 2026 — which brought together government officials, mining associations and private sector players — that balance took center stage. Discussions reflected a growing consensus that the future of Zimbabwe’s gold sector will depend on its ability to modernize small-scale mining without undermining the livelihoods it supports.
For many miners, the transition will not be simple. But officials insist that reducing mercury use is no longer optional — it is essential to securing both the industry’s long-term viability and the health of the communities that depend on it.
