ZMF urges miners to seize Indaba opportunities

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has urged small-scale miners to participate in this year’s edition of the Investing in African Mining indaba and capitalise on the numerous opportunities presented by the annual event.

Traditionally held in South Africa, the indaba provides a unique platform for small-scale miners to connect with potential investors and stay abreast of the latest developments in the global mining industry.

This year’s mining indaba will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from February 3 to 6 under the theme, “Transforming African Mining for the Future”.

In an interview, ZMF chief executive Mr Wellington Takavarasha, whose organisation represents the interests of small-scale miner in Zimbabwe urged its members to attend the indaba, highlighting its significance for small-scale miners to connect with investors.

The ZMF is a Government initiative aimed at promoting sustainable growth and meaningful transformation within the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

As Zimbabwe’s largest mining organisation, ZMF boasts over 1,5 million members who contribute, on average, 60 percent of the annual gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

Mr Takavarasha highlighted the collaborative efforts of ZMF with key stakeholders like the Chamber of Mines and Government ministries to maximise the benefits of the platform for the Zimbabwean mining sector.

“We are encouraging our members to participate at the mining indaba — it’s one of the biggest international conferences held in Africa bringing together big mining houses, investors,” he said.

“But the main issue is that we also participate with other key stakeholders that include the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe among other parastatals in the mining sector.

“The indaba creates a platform where participants are given the opportunity to unlock investment opportunities and business linkages with potential investors and project funders.”

The 2025 Mining indaba focuses on critical minerals, sustainable mining and responsible investments.

Zimbabwe’s mining industry is endowed with vast mineral deposits that include gold, platinum, diamond, lithium, chrome, coal and semi-precious stones such as amethyst, agate, antimony, and amazonite.

Players in the small-scale mining industry are predominantly found in gold, chrome and semi-precious stones along the Great Dyke belt.

In the gold sub-sector, small-scale miners are the major players, contributing about 60 percent of the “yellow metal” to the national output.

The mining industry is one of the country’s cornerstones of Zimbabwe’s economy.

According to the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), the mining sector accounts for 70 percent of Foreign Direct Investment, 80 percent of exports, 19 percent of Government revenues, 3 percent of direct formal employment and 13,5 percent of national income.-herald