by Tafanana Kwedu

Zimbabwe’s 2019 minerals output surpassed projected targets due to various measures put in place by government to revive the sector to its former glory, as official figures in Zimbabwe’s Annual Budget and Economic Review 2019 report revealed.

Among other intervention to resuscitate the mining sector, government amended the Indigenous Act to allow foreign investors to retain majority shares as well as setting up a One Stop Investment shop to cut time in approving investment deals.

Statistics released by government show that in 2019 key minerals such as gold, nickel, coal and diamonds had production targets of 28000kg,16000 tonnes, 2600000kg and 2000000 carats in that order. The actual production of the year 2019 for gold, nickel, coal and diamonds stood at 29429kg, 16278 tonnes, 2729921kg and 2119189 carats respectively.

“Key minerals such as gold, nickel, coal and diamonds performed better than anticipated in 2019, surpassing target,” reads part of the report.

Minerals account for the country’s largest chunk of exports receipts followed by agriculture.