Source: VP Chiwenga underscores need for mineral beneficiation – herald
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
VICE President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has underscored the urgent need to accelerate beneficiation and value addition to ensure that Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth benefits all citizens, stressing that the country “remains open for business, not extraction”.
Officially opening the 28th edition of the Mine Entra Conference in Bulawayo yesterday, Vice President Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s natural endowments must serve as the foundation for inclusive empowerment, industrialisation and sustainable development.
“As we pursue Vision 2030 and transition from the National Development Strategy 1 to the National Development Strategy 2, the mining sector remains pivotal to our national aspirations,” he said.
Mining, the Vice President noted, remains the backbone of the economy, contributing over 70 percent of export earnings, 14,5 percent of GDP, and supporting thousands of livelihoods across the country.
Vice President Chiwenga described this year’s theme, “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining”, as both timely and visionary.
“It challenges us to re-imagine mining, to move beyond the traditional model of resource exploitation and embrace a future defined by beneficiation, innovation and community empowerment. ‘Beyond Extraction’ demands that we move from exporting raw ore to exporting finished products,” he said.
He emphasised that every tonne extracted must translate into jobs, industries and transformed communities. “We must embed beneficiation and value addition as non-negotiable principles of our mining strategy,” he said.
Addressing stakeholders across the mining value chain, Vice President Chiwenga called for integrity, responsibility and innovation.
“To the miners, you are the custodians of our mineral wealth. Handle it with integrity. Exploit it responsibly. Protect it as a national trust,” he said.
“To the processors and off-takers, the era of raw mineral exports must give way to beneficiation and value addition. Mining must now drive industrialisation, create jobs and support downstream sectors.”
Speaking directly to investors, Vice President Chiwenga reiterated the Government’s commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships.
“To the investors, both local and international, Zimbabwe remains open for business, not for extraction. We seek mutual partnerships that ensure the minerals beneath our soil empower all our people,” he said.
He revealed that the Government is modernising the regulatory framework to align with global best practices, citing the recently gazetted Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which enforces accountability, transparency, and corporate social responsibility.
“It ensures that every investor operates ethically, every project benefits communities and every operation protects the environment. Mining must translate into tangible benefits, schools, clinics, roads and sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
The Vice commended the commissioning of strategic projects such as the Palm River Energy Metallurgical Plant in Beitbridge and the Zimplats Smelter Expansion and Abatement Project, describing them as milestones in beneficiation and energy self-sufficiency.
“However, our ambition goes further. We must build a fully integrated mining value chain that feeds into manufacturing, energy, and export competitiveness,” he said, urging collaboration between mining houses and research institutions in leveraging geospatial mapping, AI and automation.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, saying mining must align with the Africa Mining Vision (2009) and the SADC Protocol on Mining (1997) by integrating climate resilience and renewable energy.
“We should ensure that our mining operations are carried out in a sustainable manner that safeguards our environment and surrounding communities,” he said.
Vice President Chiwenga hailed Mine Entra 2025 as a game-changing platform for partnerships, investments and policy dialogue.
“This year’s Mine Entra is not just an exhibition, it is a launchpad for partnerships and policy alignment that will shape Zimbabwe’s mining future,” he said.
“The Second Republic remains committed to engagement and re-engagement. We welcome investors from all corners of the world who share our values of responsibility, transparency, and shared prosperity.”
Meanwhile, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said there is “no space for players who cannot follow the ethos of responsible mining”.
He outlined the two phases of Zimbabwe’s Responsible Mining Initiative, with phase 1 focusing on law enforcement and phase 2 aimed at strengthening regulations and penalties. He also called for greater local manufacturing of inputs and value-added products.
Organised by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, the annual Mine Entra Expo remains the country’s premier platform for mining innovation and investment.
Since its inception in 1995, it has evolved into one of Southern Africa’s most respected mining exhibitions.
Between 2017 and 2023, mineral export earnings more than doubled from US$2,7 billion to over US$5,6 billion, underscoring the sector’s strong performance and renewed investor confidence.
The exhibition has also expanded in scale from 5,115 square metres in 2021 to 7,828 in 2024, reflecting its growing importance on the regional mining calendar.
The 2025 Mining, Engineering, and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) is taking place against a resurgent mining sector backdrop, as Zimbabwe’s gold output surged 37 percent to 32,98 tonnes in the first nine months of the year — up from 24,2 tonnes over the same period in 2024.
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