By Staff Writer

 Zimbabwe's artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector delivered a remarkable 36.5% surge in gold production in July 2025, a feat industry leaders attribute directly to targeted government support mechanisms and reforms. Dru Edmund Kucherera, speaking for the influential advocacy group Miners For Economic Development (Miners4ED), hailed the results as evidence that empowering the sector yields significant national dividends.

"This exceptional performance isn't accidental," stated Kucherera. "It's the direct outcome of several crucial support pillars implemented to empower our artisanal and small-scale miners. These interventions are finally unlocking the vast potential within this critical segment of our mining industry."

Kucherera outlined the key drivers behind the July boom identified by Miners For Economic Development.

"The expansion and effective rollout of the Gold Development Fund and the Mining Industry Loan Fund (MILF) have been game-changers," Kucherera explained. "Providing accessible loans specifically for modern equipment procurement has directly addressed the chronic capital constraints that stifled productivity and efficiency for ASM operators for too long. These revolving funds are enabling genuine operational scaling."

 He highlighted the role of Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), noting their "timely, transparent payments" and competitive pricing now exceeding US$105 per gram. "This transparency and better value have reinstated miners' confidence," Kucherera said. "It actively incentivizes formal channel deliveries over the informal markets, benefiting both the miners and the national treasury."

He also said, "Strategic government reforms focused on formalizing the sector, including simplified licensing and active support for using legal markets, are significantly reducing barriers to entry," Kucherera emphasized. "This is demonstrably curbing illicit trading and allowing small-scale miners to integrate into legitimate, stable supply chains where they can thrive."

He said, "Nationwide capacity-building initiatives and technical training, often delivered in partnership with international agencies and civil society, are equipping miners with vital skills," Kucherera noted. "This includes responsible mining practices, health and safety protocols, and environmental stewardship. This empowerment isn't just ethical; it directly translates into higher, more sustainable productivity."

Kucherera also acknowledged the importance of "strong partnerships between government, industry, and miners’ associations, fostered through regional stakeholder forums," which enable knowledge sharing on best practices and market information. He added that "sustained favorable international gold prices coupled with robust domestic demand" provided a crucial tailwind, while "proactive government monitoring and simplified regulatory compliance" further encouraged formalization.

"Miners For Economic Development fully endorses these mechanisms," Kucherera affirmed. "Our commitment remains steadfast: we will continue advocating for even greater sector investment, sustained capacity building, and the removal of any remaining operational barriers facing small-scale miners."

He concluded with a vision for the future: "By reinforcing these support pillars, Zimbabwe’s ASM sector is proving it can be the engine of national economic growth, job creation, and truly sustainable development that we all know it can be. The July figures are a powerful testament to that potential being realized.