Freda Rebecca in Bindura earns ISO 17025 lab accreditation, a Zimbabwe first

Freda Rebecca in Bindura earns ISO 17025 lab accreditation, a Zimbabwe first

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Freda Rebecca Gold Mine in Bindura has become the first gold mining operation in Zimbabwe to secure ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for its laboratory, in a development expected to strengthen confidence in its assay results and reduce reliance on external testing facilities.

The accreditation certificate was handed over by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS) at a ceremony held at the mine on Tuesday. ISO/IEC 17025 is an international standard that confirms a laboratory’s technical competence to produce accurate, internationally accepted results. At Freda Rebecca, it covers the chemical analysis work that determines ore grades, supports exploration and resource evaluation, and validates bullion analysis for gold sales.

SADCAS chief executive Dr Eve Christine Gadzikwa said the achievement came after a lengthy process. “Achieving accreditation is no small feat. It is a rigorous and demanding process. Your success reflects commitment, competence and dedication,” she said, adding that it followed seven years of pursuing accreditation.

Dr Gadzikwa also clarified that the Standards Association of Zimbabwe provides certification services but does not accredit laboratories, while SADCAS is mandated to grant accreditation against standards such as ISO/IEC 17025. She said accreditation supports market access and builds trust in results. “Accreditation facilitates market access. Products that pass accredited conformity assessments can enter markets that require compliance with specific standards. It builds trust, improves quality and strengthens operational efficiency,” she said.

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Mutapa Gold Resources chief executive Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya said credible laboratory data was central to mining decisions. “For a gold mining operation like ours, assay results are not just numbers on a report. They inform exploration decisions, guide resource evaluation, influence grade control, support mine planning, metallurgical accounting and validate bullion analysis,” he said.

“Accuracy is not optional, precision is not a luxury. Reliability is central to the way we mine, process, account for and sell gold. This accreditation is not only a laboratory achievement, it is a Mutapa Gold Resources achievement. We are building disciplined, data-driven and internationally credible operations that can compete beyond our borders,” Maseva-Shayawabaya added.

The accreditation follows a quality-management programme that started in 2019 and continued through several changes of ownership at the mine, which is among Zimbabwe’s oldest gold producers. With an accredited in-house laboratory, the operation expects shorter turnaround times for results and lower analytical costs, as fewer samples need to be sent outside for verification.

Mine general manager Alfred Chinyere said the company has already secured approval for a new laboratory building to expand on the milestone. “We have always wanted a lab that produces results that are valid, accurate and consistent. We have received approval for a US$2.2 million budget. Construction has started and we expect to complete in five months,” Chinyere said.

He said the facility will be fitted with modern instruments and a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to deliver results in real time. “Gold is a precious mineral, so we want gold accounting to be very accurate,” he said.

SADCAS said the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is valid for five years, subject to annual surveillance assessments and a full reassessment before renewal.

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