One of Zimbabwe’s leading gold producers, Betterbrands Pvt Ltd, has delivered 18.8 tonnes of gold to Fidelity Gold Refiners (FGR) so far this year, a significant contribution toward the country’s ambitious 40-tonne annual target.
The rebound comes as government incentives to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) — and curb smuggling — begin yielding strong results.
FGR senior official Francis Maidza told delegates at the planetGOLD Zimbabwe Annual Stakeholders Conference 2025 that small-scale miners have delivered a combined 21.5 tonnes to date.
“To date, 21.5 tonnes of gold has been delivered to us by small-scale and artisanal miners toward the 40-tonne target,” Maidza said. The conference ran under the theme, “Building Together for a Sustainable ASGM Sector.”
Official figures show Zimbabwe’s total gold deliveries jumped 37 percent in the first nine months of the year, rising to 32.98 tonnes from 24.2 tonnes over the same period in 2024 — firmly placing the nation on track to hit its output target.
Documents seen by this publication indicate that Betterbrands — owned by MP Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya — accounted for the bulk of ASM deliveries. Its 18.8-tonne haul translates into approximately US$1.9 billion in economic inflows.
The company has delivered nearly 60 tonnes over the past four years:
2021: 14 tonnes
2022: 18 tonnes
2023: 12 tonnes
2024: 15 tonnes
At current prices, that represents close to US$6 billion earned for Zimbabwe.
A Betterbrands representative said the company was committed to supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic turnaround efforts.
“We commend government for the incentives benefiting gold producers. This has reduced smuggling and increased foreign currency earnings,” the official said. “Based on our performance since 2021, we expect to exceed 20 tonnes this year.”
Last year, small-scale miners delivered 23.7 tonnes of gold — almost double the 12.7 tonnes produced by large-scale operators — accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country’s 36.4-tonne total output.
Analysts say the latest figures highlight the ASM sector’s growing importance to Zimbabwe’s export earnings and its increasingly central role in stabilizing the national economy — one gold flake at a time.
