Farai Mabeza
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura has issued a strong warning against corruption within the ministry, declaring that officials who abuse their positions for personal gain are betraying both the institution and the nation.
Addressing ministry staff, Kambamura said integrity and accountability would be central to the ministry\'s operations as Zimbabwe seeks to maximise the benefits of its mineral wealth and advance national development goals.
\"Any officer who solicits a bribe, who trades a decision for a favour, who leaks privileged information, or who looks the other way for personal gain, betrays not only this institution but the nation itself,\" he said.
The minister sought to reassure Zimbabweans that efforts to enforce mining regulations and safety standards would not be undermined by corruption, political interference or corporate influence.
He revealed that he had given inspectors and Government Mining Engineers firm assurances that lawful enforcement actions would be fully supported by the ministry.
\"I have given our Inspectors and Government Mining Engineers a clear and public assurance: when an inspector lawfully suspends or closes an unsafe operation, that order will stand. It will not be quietly reversed through a phone call, through political pressure or through corporate influence. If I stand behind you, the President stands behind you,\" Kambamura said.
The remarks come as the ministry intensifies efforts to strengthen governance and oversight in one of Zimbabwe\'s most important economic sectors.
Kambamura said ministry officials must remain conscious that their work directly affects the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans.
\"I have asked that we gather not for ceremony, but for a conversation about who we are, what we are called to do, and the standard we will hold ourselves to in the year ahead,\" he said.
\"Behind every policy we draft, every grant we register, every inspection we conduct and every figure we report, there is a Zimbabwean whose livelihood, safety and future depend on our diligence.\"
The minister also outlined his vision for the ministry\'s performance in 2026, describing mining as the backbone of Zimbabwe\'s economy and a key driver of the country\'s ambitions under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2.
