Zimbabwe’s platinum boom: Where is the wealth?

What the report says

Zimbabwe’s platinum industry is bringing in large revenues, but Al Jazeera reports that many communities living near major mines say they have seen little improvement in basic services. The article, published from the Mhondoro-Ngezi area and other parts of Zimbabwe’s platinum belt, says residents are still pressing for better roads, schools, water systems and sanitation even as the sector benefits from strong prices and export growth.

The report says platinum prices recently reached record levels, while Zimbabwe’s mining sector posted a record $8.5bn in export earnings in 2025, helped by gold and platinum group metals. Mining remains a major part of the economy, but people in areas around the Great Dyke, including villages near Zimplats operations, say infrastructure has not kept pace with mining activity and population growth. Local leaders and residents described long walks to school, strained classrooms, unsafe or inadequate roads, and concerns about sewage affecting the Ngwazani River.

Al Jazeera also quotes residents who say they want more direct benefits from the mines, including support for schools, water access and livelihood projects. Some community members say relocation linked to mining has not been matched by visible development. One resident also said flooding makes it hard for children to cross the river to attend school.

The article notes that Unki Platinum Mine says it has invested in community development, while Mimosa and Zimplats did not provide responses by publication. The broader issue, as framed by Al Jazeera, is whether Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth is producing lasting local gains in the communities most affected by extraction.