By Nigel Pfunde
BINDURA — GOVERNMENT has expressed strong satisfaction with the ongoing multi-million dollar expansion drive at t Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, declaring the state-owned operation a model for the country’s national mining ambitions.Freda Rebecca, which is the flagship asset of Mutapa Gold Resources and currently accounts for approximately 70 percent of the state-owned miner’s total output, is undergoing a massive capacity upgrade as part of a whooping US$250 million group wide investment initiative.
The aggressive expansion program is backed by a secured US$75 million local debt syndication raised from domestic banking institutions including CBZ, NMB among others.
According to Mines minister Dr. Engineer Kambamura, the capital injection will be used to nearly double Mutapa Gold Resources’ overall group production from its current levels of 300 to 310 kilograms of gold per month to between 570 and 600 kilograms per month. The target is expected to be achieved by the end of this year and into the first half of 2027.
Speaking during a technical tour of the Bindura facilit on Thursday, Kambamura lauded the mine’s management for aligning with the government’s economic directives. “We are very much impressed with the setup, the standards that we have seen here and the plans that the mine has to increase production,” Kambamura said.
“We are very excited as Government, especially seeing that the company is aligning to the Second Republic’s call for increased production and ramping up of production.”
Under the newly funded group roadmap, Freda Rebecca, which produced 2.2 tonnes of gold in 2025 and currently operates at a baseline of roughly 204 kilograms per month , is projected to scale its monthly output up to 270 kilograms. Simultaneously, the group is de-risking its production concentration by constructing a new US$152 million processing facility at the Shamva Gold Mine. This will allow Shamva to develop a massive open cast pit at the top of Shamva Hill, boosting its individual monthly output from 66 kilograms to 200 kilograms. Further output gains are expected from Jena Mine, which is scheduled for capacity expansion and plant stabilization to push its current 40 kilograms per month production level upwards.
Kambamura emphasized that the production drive directly marries the country’s economic stability and the strength of its national gold-backed currency (ZiG)
. “I would like to urge other operations also to follow suit by increasing their production, considering that our currency is backed by gold,” he said.
“Every gram, every kilogram that is mined will speak volumes towards our goal of improving our gold reserves.”
Despite the focus on ramping up tonnage, Kambamura warned that safety and environmental compliance remain non-negotiable. He praised Freda Rebecca’s stringent workplace safety standards but cautioned that the government would not hesitate to shut down non-compliant operations elsewhere.
“We are not only interested in getting the gold, but life is sacred.”
“Where standards are not being followed, our inspectors are closing such mines. That is the language we are using.”
Kambamura went on to tour the mining operations site and reminisced about his experience working at the mine in 1997 in his cap as a qualified mining engineer before pursuing other academic exploits.
