Mnangagwa Hails Mines Bill as Pathway to Inclusive, Transparent Mining Sector

Deputy Finance Minister David Mnangagwa has described the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill as a decisive step toward economic fairness, emphasizing that Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must benefit all citizens, not just an elite few.

Addressing ZANU PF youth and senior party officials at the party headquarters on Wednesday, Mnangagwa said the proposed legislation offers a roadmap for restructuring Zimbabwe’s mining industry to be more inclusive, accountable, and investment-friendly.

Among those present were Youth Minister Tino Machakaire and ZANU PF Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, who joined in discussions on the Bill’s wide-ranging impact.

“From a finance perspective, this Bill presents a critical opportunity to modernize the country’s mining regulatory framework and foster a more transparent and fiscally sound sector,” Mnangagwa said.

He added that the Ministry of Finance is particularly encouraged by the Bill’s forward-looking fiscal policies, which are designed to attract investment, improve compliance, and ensure broader participation in mineral resource gains.

The mining sector remains one of Zimbabwe’s economic mainstays, accounting for more than 60% of export receipts and roughly 13% of GDP. It supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, and plays a central role in the national development vision.

However, Mnangagwa acknowledged that outdated laws, unclear licensing processes, and institutional inefficiencies have long hindered growth and discouraged accountability.

“This Bill directly addresses these structural weaknesses by introducing stronger oversight, transparent revenue mechanisms, and improved planning capacity,” he explained.

During an interactive session, young participants voiced their concerns. Gutu youth representative Robert Togarepi raised the issue of limited support for aspiring miners, while Kumbirai Maunganidze from Harare questioned the lack of local markets for semi-precious stones.

“We’ve got these stones, but there’s nowhere to sell them locally. We need help marketing minerals beyond just gold,” said Maunganidze.

In response, Mnangagwa reaffirmed government’s resolve to ensure that fiscal reforms in the Bill are rolled out with “integrity and transparency,” stressing that equitable benefit-sharing remains a top priority.

The Bill also supports value addition through incentives, including full royalty rebates on minerals processed and used within Zimbabwe. It further mandates public disclosure of mining contracts and revenue data—measures aligned with global accountability standards such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Mnangagwa noted that legislation alone isn’t enough. He said the government is implementing broader reforms, including the use of digital tools for real-time tracking of mineral output and financial flows to strengthen monitoring and curb leakages

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