Kuvimba plans US$38m capex for Freda Rebecca as it targets life of mine extension
HARARE – Kuvimba Mining House’s subsidiary, Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, has outlined a significant capital expenditure plan of US$38 million for the next financial year, which will be dedicated to exploration activities, plant upgrades, and extending the mine’s operational lifespan. The mine is anticipating 2,400 kgs of gold production for the current financial year, with expectations to maintain similar production levels in the following year.
Additionally, the company is building a US$13 million extension to its tailing storage facility (TSF) to ensure business continuity, as the existing facility’s lifespan has concluded. The newly constructed extension is expected to last 20 years.
According to the mine’s management, the capital expenditure budget will be allocated towards key projects aimed at improving operational efficiencies and ensuring business continuity.
Freda Rebecca Gold Mine Managing Director Patrick Shayawabaya told FinX that, “In the following year our focus will be on exploration activities. We need to extend the life of our mine, so that will be a key focus area. We also need to invest in upgrading of plant and equipment in our plant to improve our efficiencies. So those are three focus areas, exploration and investment in stay in business capital expenditure in the plant. We’re looking at a total capital expenditure budget of about $38 million for the next year. Our next financial year will take us to March 2026.”
The mine’s capital expenditure plans come at a time when the gold mining sector is expected to play a key role in Zimbabwe’s economic recovery efforts.
The company is constructing a US$13 million extension to its tailing storage facility (TSF), which will cover 47 hectares facility. This extension comes at a time when the lifespan of the first TSF has come to an end. The new extension is expected to have a lifespan of 20 years.
“The focus for this year was on this TSF project. Because this was a business continuity issue. If the TSF had failed, it would have meant that we close the shop,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kuvimba Mining House has launched its annual sustainability campaign, “Restoring Nature, Securing Tomorrow.” This initiative aims to promote environmental stewardship and build environmental resilience in the company’s operational areas.
The campaign focuses on restoring and rebuilding sustainable communities through the development and preservation of green spaces using native plants, dust suppression initiatives, and local infrastructure rehabilitation.
The campaign was launched at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine last Friday, where over 10,000 trees have been planted in since January 2025, around the TSF, tailing storage facility, (a mining structure used to store waste materials after mineral extraction). TSFs can cause significant damage to local communities if not managed properly.
Speaking to the media at the launch, Group CEO Trevor Barnard emphasized the company’s commitment to environmental preservation and community protection.
“We are strongly committed to preserving the environment and protecting communities in our operational areas. I am delighted to launch the ‘Restoring Nature, Securing Tomorrow’ initiative, where we build our operations and support our teams to foster environmental stewardship. We work in collaboration with local communities to realize intergenerational environmental sustainability,” said Barnard.
As part of this campaign, KMH’s operational mines have been actively involved in various community initiatives to promote. Sandawana Mines, the company’s lithium mine in the Energy cluster, has built over 20 kilometres of roadworks and implemented dust suppression initiatives in the Mberengwa District.
Additionally, they have rolled out health promotion initiatives for the district and its 16 Chiefs. Jena Mines has constructed over 5 kilometres of roadworks in the Lower Gweru area, Zimbabwe Alloys has operates a backfilling programme for disused pits to protect local communities.
KMH is Zimbabwe’s leading gold producer and a mining conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of mines in gold, PGMs, energy, and bulk commodities clusters.-finx
