Source: Delegates troop into Bulawayo for Mine Entra 2026 Expo – herald
Judith Phiri judith.phiri@sundaynews.co.zw
EXHIBITORS have started trooping into Bulawayo ahead of Zimbabwe’s premier mining, engineering and transport exhibition, Mine Entra 2026, which kicks off in the city on Wednesday.
Hosted by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company in partnership with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the expo will run up to Friday at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) under the theme: “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation through Mining Value Chains”.
ZITF Company marketing and corporate communications manager, Mr Thandolwenkosi Nkomo, yesterday said all was set for the specialised expo with some exhibitors already on the ground setting up their stands.
“Some exhibitors have been on the ground since last week and we expect all exhibitions to have been completed preparations by close of business on Tuesday in time for the start of the exhibition,” he told Zimpapers.
“We’ve also been working closely with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe in preparation for the symposiums and conferences taking place during Mine Entra. Registration for the conferences is still open.”
Key stakeholders have expressed readiness for the event with Young Miners Foundation (YMF) chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Payne Kupfuwa, saying youth miners will be fully participating, networking and attending conferences.
“YMF members will be looking for partnerships that go beyond extracting minerals. We seek technology, training, efficient equipment and capital that will help us build 21st century young mineral magnates.
“Our future is not only underground, it’s in innovation and in value addition and beneficiation of our minerals. This value will stay in our communities long after the mines close,” he said.
“Mine Entra 2026 must be more than an exhibition, it must be a launch-pad for the next generation of miners,” he said.
The expo comes at a time when Zimbabwe is formalising and professionalizing small scale mining operations who seek to secure meaningful investment and soft lending opportunities from financial institutions.
Mr Kupfuwa said their members look forward to sharing and exchanging notes on safe mining methods, as well as health and environmental sensitivity as they conform to environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework.
“Young miners will be navigating for strategies and ideas to mine safer, smarter and sustainably. We seek value beyond the ore and getting insights on latest policy changes and contributing to the policies as we interact with policy makers and key players in the mining industry,” he said.
Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-Scale Women Miners Association chairperson, Mrs Kundai Chikonzo Midzi said they will have a site visit to one of the women miners on the sidelines of Mine Entra.
“We also have our conference for Women in Mining Thursday (30 July). This is one of the events we will be doing as we continue to champion a bold women miners’ empowerment vision,” she said.
Ms Midzi said women miners play a critical role in the mining sector, making up an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of Zimbabwe’s national mining workforce, while they represent about 50 percent of artisanal and small-scale miners.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter past vice-president and businessman, Mr Louis Herbst said Mine Entra 2026 presents far more than just another exhibition.
“It’s an opportunity for Bulawayo and Zimbabwean businesses to rethink how we approach growth and competitiveness. For our local mining sector, this should be viewed as a strategic opportunity to evaluate how operations can be upscalled to gain first-hand exposure to the latest technological advancements,” he said.
“Engineering innovations and productivity-enhancing solutions are equally important and we should be able to identify practical methods of improving efficiency and output. The companies that will lead tomorrow are those willing to embrace innovation today.”
Mr Herbst said ‘standing still’ in today’s competitive environment is in reality, moving backwards, while sustainable growth requires investment, continuous improvement and the willingness to challenge traditional ways of doing business.
“Every investment carries an element of risk, but every successful business has been built by leaders who had the confidence and courage to invest in their vision.
“The greater risk is allowing opportunities to pass by while others innovate and expand. Mine Entra showcases the technologies, partnerships and ideas capable of transforming operations,” he said.
Mr Herbst called on every participating business to go with an open mind, engage with exhibitors, explore new technologies, build strategic relationships and most importantly, return with practical solutions that can be implemented to increase productivity and profitability.
Key highlights in the expo diary include a Suppliers, Energy and Infrastructure Symposium on Tuesday, the Mine Entra Buyers Programme, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, and a
Beneficiation and Value Addition Symposium on Wednesday together with the Exploration Seminar on the same day.
The day will be capped off with an Exhibitors’ Welcome Cocktail, which officially opens the Mine Entra networking programme. On Thursday there will be a Mine Entra Conference bringing together industry leaders, investors, financiers and mining professionals to discuss key trends, emerging opportunities and innovative solutions shaping the future of mining.
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