Zimbabwe Central Bank Targets Mining Capital at African Mining Week

Matshe will headline the Central Bank Governors, Finance and Investor Roundtable from October 14 to 16, focusing on strategies to attract private capital and bolster mineral processing. His appearance highlights Zimbabwe’s aggressive push to modernize its extraction sector, specifically targeting 55 metric tonnes of gold production in 2026, a significant increase from 38.6 metric tonnes in 2024. The Reserve Bank’s direct foreign currency payment program for artisanal miners remains a cornerstone of this output growth, currently accounting for over 60 percent of the nation's total gold supply.

Beyond production volume, Zimbabwe is pivoting toward downstream beneficiation to capture greater export value. With a January 2027 ban on lithium concentrate exports looming, the government is actively courting $1 billion in local processing investments. Matshe is slated to discuss these initiatives during the Unlocking Refining Investment panel, where he will detail how current foreign exchange reforms and new refining capacity in Bulawayo serve as a blueprint for creating stable investment environments across the continent.