Govt Standardises RDC Mining Levies in Boost for Small-Scale Miners

The Government has moved to standardise Rural District Council (RDC) land development levies in the mining sector, delivering what industry players describe as a major breakthrough for the Zimbabwe Mining Federation (ZMF) after years of lobbying for fee reforms.

The decision was approved during Cabinet’s 13th sitting on Tuesday, chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as part of a broader overhaul of licences, permits, levies and fees affecting the mining industry.

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube presented the review, which stems from a July 29, 2025 Cabinet resolution aimed at implementing ease-of-doing-business reforms across 12 key economic sectors.

Authorities say the reforms are designed to lower operational costs, improve competitiveness and stimulate sustainable growth in Zimbabwe’s mining industry.

Mining expert Josh Chidziva said the standardisation of RDC levies marks a turning point for operators who have long grappled with inconsistent and often excessive charges imposed by different districts.

“The Cabinet approval of the RDC levies for land development ends the inconsistent and often prohibitive charges that miners have faced across different districts,” he said.

For years, the Zimbabwe Mining Federation has pushed for harmonisation of these fees, arguing that wide disparities were placing an undue burden on artisanal and small-scale miners while constraining output. The latest reforms are expected to introduce greater predictability and fairness across the sector.

Beyond levy standardisation, Cabinet also approved measures to streamline duplicative licences by placing them under a single regulatory authority. Registration fees for dealing in precious stones have been reduced, while the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s Trading on Mining Location fee has been scrapped altogether.

In a move aimed at supporting smaller operators, Cabinet endorsed a tiered fee structure based on capacity to pay, meaning artisanal and small-scale miners will now pay significantly less than large-scale companies. Government indicated that more than 80% of existing reasonable mining fees will remain in place.

The reforms also introduce new regulatory charges, including permits for gold jewellery production and application fees for registering approved lithium processing plants. Meanwhile, fees for diamond cutting and polishing licences have been lowered.

Cabinet further noted ongoing reforms in the sector, including the review of the Mines and Minerals Act, the formulation of a new Minerals Development Policy, and the rollout of the Mining Cadastre System, which is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency in the allocation of mining rights.