Zimbabwe is set to add a major fixture to its mining and investment calendar with the launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week, an annual international mining conference and exhibition whose inaugural edition is scheduled for November.
The new platform is deliberately designed to move the national and regional mining conversation beyond traditional extraction and raw mineral exports, and towards ecosystem-led growth, industrialisation and value addition, positioning the country as a purposeful and competitive participant in the global critical minerals economy.
The exhibition is organised by VUKA Group, in partnership with founding partner Nzuri Communications, and is hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
Mining remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing a huge percentage of export earnings, providing employment to hundreds of thousands directly and indirectly and anchoring growth in key downstream industries such as manufacturing, construction and energy.
The sector is also central to the country’s drive to attain upper middle-income status by 2030, with Government consistently prioritising policies that promote beneficiation, local content development and sustainable mining practices.
Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe Mining Week is expected to provide a high-level platform for policymakers, investors, financiers, mining houses, equipment suppliers and service providers to engage on how the sector can deliver broader economic transformation, rather than operate as an isolated extractive activity.
In a statement, VUKA Group chief executive officer Mr David Ashdown said the conference reflects both Zimbabwe’s vast mineral potential and Africa’s growing role in shaping global supply chains for strategic minerals.
“We have long recognised Zimbabwe’s exceptional mining potential, alongside opportunities across other strategic industry verticals, and its capacity to ignite sustainable economic growth,” said Mr Ashdown.
“VUKA Group’s purpose is to connect Africa to the world’s best to influence sustainable progress and Zimbabwe Mining Week reflects that ambition in action.”
The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week comes at a time when global demand for lithium, platinum group metals, rare earths and other critical minerals is accelerating, driven by the green energy transition, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing.
Zimbabwe, endowed with one of the most diverse mineral portfolios in Africa, is increasingly being viewed as a strategic supplier of these inputs.
Nzuri Communications chief executive officer Mr Tichaona Mawoni said the new platform is a strategic intervention aimed at repositioning Zimbabwe within that global conversation.
“The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week is a strategic move to place Zimbabwe at the centre of the global critical minerals dialogue,” said Mr Mawoni.
“Zimbabwe is moving beyond the outdated narrative of simply extracting resources.”
He said the focus is now firmly on building a resilient and inclusive mining ecosystem that retains more value locally.
“Our focus is on building a robust mining ecosystem that prioritises domestic processing, industrialisation and value addition, ensuring the real benefits of our mineral wealth are retained within our borders.”
Mr Mawoni added that by bringing together global capital, technology providers and policymakers, the event will go beyond discussion and help shape concrete pathways for growth.
“By convening global investors and policy leaders, we are not just discussing the future — we are architecting it. Zimbabwe holds the resources essential to the green energy transition, and we are positioning the country not just to participate, but to lead,” he said.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has consistently emphasised the need for partnerships that support responsible mining, environmental stewardship and community development, while accelerating beneficiation and local industrial capacity.
Zimbabwe Mining Week is expected to complement existing sector initiatives by creating a dedicated space for dialogue on policy certainty, financing, innovation, infrastructure and sustainability — key pillars required to unlock long-term value from the country’s mineral endowment.
