Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s ASGM sector has been rising in prominence since the 1990s because of the deteriorating economy, characterized by hyperinflation and rising unemployment rates. The sector produced about 1,500 kg/year of gold in the early 1990s’, which was roughly 10% of the country’s total gold output with an approximate value of US $63.3 million. Today, it’s estimated than over 300,000 people work in the sector - both women and men.

Despite its importance, ASGM activities in Zimbabwe face challenges related to informality, environmental degradation, and health risks associated with mercury use. The use of mercury is widespread, with over 96 percent of mine sites using the chemical. Women are particularly vulnerable to mercury exposure due to their involvement in processing and washing stages, where exposure levels are highest. 

The ASGM sector in Zimbabwe operates with varying levels of formalization and has established Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) as the sole buyer, refiner, and exporter for the country’s gold. In 2018, gold from the ASGM sector (21,678 kg) accounted for 65% of gold purchases by Fidelity Gold Refinery. However, the limited extent of formalization across the full supply chain remains a significant challenge, contributing to non-compliance with legal provisions and increasing mercury emissions. 

ASGM activities are primarily concentrated in four provinces considered to be ‘hotspots’ due to the high density of gold processing sites and the large number of miners: Midlands, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland Central. Collectively, these provinces host an estimated 60,556 miners that make use of approximately 837 processing sites.

To address these challenges, Zimbabwe's National Action Plan (NAP) for ASGM, aligned with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, sets out several national-level commitments. These include reducing mercury emissions, promoting mercury-free technologies, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and building institutional capacities. The NAP also emphasizes the need for stronger cooperation among government agencies, ASGM associations, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable mining practices and improve the health and safety of communities involved in ASGM activities.

Key Figures from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's approach

The planetGold Zimbabwe project’s objective is to reduce the use of mercury in the ASGM through a holistic, multisectoral, integrated formalization approach, and to increase access to traceable gold supply chains and finance for adoption of sustainable mercury free technologies. 

The project will support approximately 7,500 direct beneficiaries (30% Women; 70% Men) to formalize their ASGM operations, access financing, increase their awareness of the harms of mercury usage and available mercury-free technologies, and adopt mercury-free processing methods. 

Activities will take place across 11 Districts in Zimbabwe’s eight mining provinces. Through the project’s interventions, 4.85 tons of mercury emissions will be prevented during and following the project’s life cycle.

Key Strategies

Optimize formalization of the ASGM sector	Promote financial inclusion and responsible supply chains
Train national ASGM specialists on implementation and scaling of best practices, including mercury-free technologies and formalization	Educate, raise awareness, and transfer knowledge to the Global ASGM community