The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) has officially commissioned the US$1.2 million Makaha Gold Service Centre in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East Province, in a significant move aimed at formalising, supporting, and enhancing productivity within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The state-of-the-art facility was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Caleb Makwiranzou, who presided over the event on behalf of Mines Minister Dr Polite Kambamura.
Built to streamline local gold production, the service center will provide small-scale miners in the region with critical operational support, including free ore transport, free milling services, and specialized equipment support.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Dr Makwiranzou commended small-scale operators for their significant contributions to national mineral output.
“Zimbabwe is blessed with a rich geological endowment, and gold has been the heartbeat of our mining story for generations,” Dr Makwiranzou said on behalf of Minister Kambamura.
He noted that the center is part of broader government efforts to improve the ease of doing business, elevate small-scale mining productivity, and strengthen formal gold deliveries to support the country’s Vision 2030 targets.
The intervention has been met with strong appreciation from the mining community, who have long faced financial and logistical barriers.
Henrietta Rushwaya, President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, welcomed the development as a major milestone. “This facility is a great intervention in terms of growing our capabilities to increase gold production,” Rushwaya stated. “We have been crying and pleading for more support and I’m glad that government has finally come in handy to assist us.”
To ensure immediate integration into the mainstream economy, Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) is actively establishing buying facilities directly at the location.
Managing Director of FGR, Mr Philip Magaramombe, emphasized their commitment to making sure miners are compensated efficiently on-site.
“FGR will be at all the facilities to pay miners and provide other support so that government’s goal of achieving the targeted deliveries are achieved,” Magaramombe said.
By eliminating transportation and processing fees, the ZMDC aims to redirect gold into official channels, curb illegal leakages, and significantly alleviate the heavy overhead costs that historically restricted the growth of local artisanal miners.
