How Mine Named Zimbabwe's Most Improved Gold Mine

How Mine has been named Zimbabwe's Most Improved Gold Producer of the Year, after reporting strong growth in 2021 on the back of increased investment by parent company, the Bulawayo Mining Company (BMC).

President Emmerson Mnangagwa conferred the award to BMC's Managing Director, Mr. Kimbton Chiota, at the inaugural Mining Excellence Awards, hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in Harare. The award, according to a citation by the Ministry, recognises the impact of the shaft deepening work done at How Mine.

Speaking after accepting the award, Mr. Chiota said gold output at How Mine rose by 59% in 2021 as the mine benefitted from

capital injection into the shaft deepening project.

“We invested US$5 million into the shaft sinking project. This has enabled us to open up new mining areas and support the increase in gold production by up to 59% in 2021. We are now mining more tonnage than at any other time in the history of the mine,” he said.

Chiota also gave details on the company's exploitation programme, which is targeting

both on-surface and underground operations, to open up the resource base for expansion.

The BMC Board has authorised an exploration budget of US$1.5 million this year.

Between 2023 and 2026, BMC plans to invest in a drilling programme that will expend US$2.7 million per year.

Mr. Chiota further added: “By the middle of the year, we expect to increase tonnage throughput by 14%, on the back of capital expenditure of US$2.2 million.”

The company, like other operators in the country, is looking to work closely with authorities to resolve challenges that are limiting the sector from reaching its true potential.

“We will continue to partner the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in finding the best solutions to our challenges, such as power supply, access to foreign currency and taxation. We also believe that continued addressing

and resolution of these challenges will surely guarantee attainment of a World Class Mining Industry as envisaged by the President,” Mr. Chiota said.

By the middle of the year, we

expect to increase tonnage throughput by 14%, on the back of capital expenditure

of US$2.2 million.