Canterbury Hits 45kg Gold Output Per Month, Eyes Doubling Production in Shamva

SHAMVA —Canterbury Mining Company has ramped up gold production at its Shamva site, now averaging 45 kilograms per month, driven by Zimbabwe’s open-for-business policy and renewed investor confidence under the Second Republic.

Located in Mashonaland Central, the mine has become a major employer, with more than 900 workers across its Shamva and Zvishavane operations.

Most of the workforce is drawn from surrounding communities, and the open pit remains a hive of activity as teams work to meet production goals despite the region’s intense heat.

Driver Mudadisi Chiperevere, who has worked at the mine for six years, said the operation has transformed livelihoods in the area.

“I have been here six years. I see a bright future. Where we are and where we’re going, we see a lot of light.

“There are a lot of things being put in place. Many people in this place are now all employed, and new employees are only coming from outside,” he said.

In a traditionally male-dominated industry, Canterbury is making strides in gender inclusion by empowering women and offering equal opportunities.

Stores Assistant Vekezela Mangwaira said she was proud to be part of the workforce and appreciated the support provided by management.

“We are happy they have managed to establish a mining industry here, and they are able to employ us as ladies.

“We were looked down upon in the mining industry, but we are now able to work here, where there is a harsh environment, but we are protected by management,” she said.

Company Secretary Samuel Rusike attributed the mine’s expansion to government reforms and foreign investment.

He said the company’s major shareholder, based in the Netherlands, responded to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for investment by choosing Zimbabwe as a strategic base.

“What you are seeing on this plant is a response to the call by the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, to say Zimbabwe is open for business. That is when our major shareholder, who is based in the Netherlands, decided to invest in Zimbabwe and found this plant as a landing area,” Rusike said.

He further explained that the Shamva site was transformed from a custom milling operation into a full-scale commercial enterprise.

“We changed it from a custom mill to a commercial enterprise that you are now seeing. We do 100 tonnes per hour crushing ore, and in terms of throughput processing at the ball mill, we are now doing 20 tonnes an hour.

“We have a CIP plant, which means we process between 13 000 and 15 000 tonnes per month of gold ore,” he added.

To increase output, Canterbury is constructing a new crusher that will raise capacity to 40 tonnes per hour, allowing the processing of up to 30 000 tonnes of ore each month.

This expansion is expected to double gold production to approximately 100 kilograms per month.

As reported by ZBC, the mine’s favorable operating environment has also prompted exploration in Zvishavane, where Canterbury plans to build a larger plant to support its growing operations.

The company’s trajectory reflects the broader impact of Zimbabwe’s economic reforms aimed at attracting foreign direct investment and revitalizing key sectors.

With 45kg of gold already flowing monthly and expansion underway, Canterbury Mining is not just digging deeper — it’s building a future for Zimbabwe’s mining economy.