Online Reporter
Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga is today expected to officially open the 27th edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) Expo at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo.
The high-profile exhibition, which began on Wednesday, is being held under the theme “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining.” The theme underscores the sector’s strategic shift towards sustainability, technology, and investment as Zimbabwe accelerates efforts to unlock the full potential of its vast mineral wealth.
Zimpapers Business hub reporters, Nqobile Bhebhe, Sikhulekelani Moyo and chief photographer, Eliah Saushoma will be giving us live updates from the event.
27 years of excellence: Mine Entra continues to drive Zimbabwe’s mining sector
The annual expo, organised by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, kicked off yesterday with the Mining Industry Suppliers Forum, hosted by the Chamber of Mines.
Since its inception in 1995, Mine Entra has evolved into Zimbabwe’s premier platform for innovation, investment, and collaboration within the mining, engineering, and transport sectors. It remains the country’s most respected and professional mining exhibition — and one of the largest of its kind in the Southern African region.
This year’s event once again brings together key industry players to showcase cutting-edge technologies, productivity solutions, and business partnerships.
Now in its 27th year, Mine Entra continues to serve as a vital networking and business hub for the mining, engineering, and transport sectors, creating opportunities for marketing, partnerships and investment.
Mining remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy — contributing about 12 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounting for over 80 percent of export earnings.
The country boasts more than 60 exploitable minerals, including gold, platinum, diamonds, and coal, which continue to attract foreign direct investment and drive national development.
Between 2017 and 2023, mineral export earnings surged from US$2.7 billion to over US$5.6 billion, reflecting the sector’s robust performance and renewed investor confidence.
The exhibition has also grown in physical size and participation. In 2024, it occupied 7,828 square metres, up from 6,544 square metres in 2023, 6,125 square metres in 2022, and 5,115 square metres in 2021 — a testament to its growing significance on the regional mining calendar.
The gathering of mining and infrastructure stakeholders in Bulawayo comes at a crucial time as Zimbabwe intensifies its drive for mineral beneficiation and value addition, while investing heavily in energy, transport, and road infrastructure to accelerate industrialisation.
With the mining spotlight firmly on Bulawayo this week, Mine Entra 2025 is poised to cement its role as a strategic platform for networking, investment and knowledge exchange — connecting Zimbabwe’s mining vision with Africa’s broader development agenda.
Mine Entra 2025 to Explore Industrialisation, ESG, and Sustainability
According to the programme, today’s proceedings will begin with a tour of exhibition pavilions, after which Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo Metropolitan, Judith Ncube, will deliver welcome remarks.
She will be followed by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando, who is expected to introduce the Acting President to deliver the official opening address.
Following the official opening ceremony, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe president Mr John Musekiwa will present an overview of the mining industry and outline prospects for local content development, empowerment and supplier programmes.
The day’s programme will also feature a series of high-level presentations focusing on industrialisation, local content development, and empowerment initiatives.
Discussions will cover topics such as promoting local content in mining, harnessing industrialisation for sustainable growth, global perspectives on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in the mining industry, and the role of academia in driving sustainability.
Acting President Chiwenga arrives for Mine Entra 2025 opening
ACTING President, General (Rtd) Dr Chiwenga has arrived at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition and Conference Smart City for the official opening of the Mine Entra 28th Edition.
Dr Chiwenga is expected to tour the exhibition stands before he gives his speech at the Mine Entra Conference.
He will be accompanied by Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Felix Mhona, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe, Deputy Ministers for Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and Industry and Commerce and Permanent Secretaries, Services Chiefs, the ZITF Company board chairperson Dr Busisa Moyo, CEO Dr Nicholas Ndebele and other Government officials.
The Acting President is now in a briefing.
Acting President Chiwenga begins tour of Mine Entra Exhibition Stands
Acting President Chiwenga has commenced his tour of the exhibition stands at the Mine Entra event. His visit began at the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development stand, where key initiatives and developments in the mining sector were showcased.
Following this, Acting President Chiwenga moved on to the Hwange Colliery Company Limited stand, where the company presented an overview of their mining activities and contributions to the industry. The tour highlights the government’s commitment to engaging with stakeholders and promoting growth in the mining sector.
The Acting President is engaging directly with exhibitors, where they explain their initiatives. He has also visited Steel Makers where they explained to him how they produce their steel products.
Dinson Iron and Steel Company also got a chance to engage with Dr Chiwenga during the tour. He also visited Barloworld Zimbabwe, where heavy duty machinery is being showcased.
Mine Entra 2025 set to showcase Zimbabwe’s mining prowess amidst gold rally
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.
According to the latest data from Fidelity Gold Refinery, this impressive growth places the country firmly on course to achieve its ambitious 40-tonne national target by year-end.
September emerged as the standout month, with gold deliveries peaking at 4,4 tonnes, marking the highest monthly performance so far this year.
The surge in gold production coincides with an unprecedented rally on international markets, where the precious metal has breached the US$4 000 per ounce mark for the first time in history.
The rally is being fueled by global investors seeking safe-haven assets amid heightened geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty across major economies.
For Zimbabwe, gold remains the largest foreign currency earner, underpinning the stability of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency alongside other key minerals such as platinum.
The price boom has not only benefited large-scale miners but also ordinary investors who purchased gold coins introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as a value preservation instrument.
Zimbabwe continues to rank among Africa’s leading gold producers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Sudan — nations leveraging their mineral wealth to bolster exports and foreign reserves.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector experienced significant growth between 2017 and 2023, with mineral export earnings rising from approximately $2.7 billion to over $5.6 billion, with some reports even suggesting revenues reached $9.77 billion by 2023.
This growth was driven by Government initiatives, increased investment, expanded exploration and the strategic development of key minerals like gold, platinum and lithium.
Established over two decades ago, Mine Entra has evolved into a pivotal event for sectors including mining, engineering, transport, and their associated industries.
The exhibition attracts a diverse range of exhibitors, from heavy engineering and equipment suppliers to service providers in logistics, construction, and protective wear.
International participants have hailed from countries such as China, Germany, and South Africa, with significant local representation from Harare and Bulawayo.
Acting President Chiwenga praises mining sector growth
Speaking after touring various exhibitions at Mine Entra, Acting President Dr Chiwenga said the expo is growing bigger and better, with the number of international exhibitors increasing from 14 last year to 18 this year.
He also noted a rise in overall exhibitors, including a diverse range of stakeholders such as suppliers and buyers.
“This Mine Entra and the exhibitions we are seeing here demonstrate the growth of the mining sector. As you know, mining is at the core of our economic growth because we have resources that define who we are, and we want to utilize them for the benefit of our people,” said Dr Chiwenga.
“With this growth, we also see progress on the ground. Every six months, we are opening larger companies in various areas, whether in strategic minerals or precious minerals — all of which we are witnessing.”
He added that if this momentum continues, the country will achieve its goals.
Dr Chiwenga said the government is closely monitoring these developments and will assess, at the end of the year, how many companies have successfully invested in Zimbabwe and are operational.
Bulawayo pledges support for mining sector to drive Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030
Bulawayo stands ready to support all mining activities geared towards attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube, has said.
Delivering her welcome remarks at the ongoing 28th edition of Mine Entra, Minister Ncube reaffirmed Bulawayo’s strategic role as the “undisputed industrial hub of the country.”
“The city is naturally the centre for the processing of minerals,” she told delegates, highlighting Bulawayo’s historic and strategic position as the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s industrial transformation.
Minister Ncube said the city hosts several foundational industries that continue to anchor national economic activity.
“The devolution agenda is the key accelerator of Vision 2030,” she said, noting that the success of the US$12 billion mining industry target will also be measured by how effectively cities such as Bulawayo are supported in providing essential infrastructure and services to the sector.
“We are committed to attracting necessary investment in sustainable resources emanating from the Great Dyke and beyond,” she said.
She added that the outcomes of the Mine Entra conference should further strengthen the path towards Zimbabwe’s aspiration of becoming an upper-middle-income economy.
The high-profile exhibition, which opened yesterday, is being held under the theme “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining,” with a sharp focus on sustainability, technology, and investment opportunities within Zimbabwe’s rapidly evolving mining sector — one of the key pillars of national economic growth.
The 2025 Mining, Engineering, and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) is taking place against the backdrop of a resurgent mining industry, with Zimbabwe’s gold output surging 37 percent to 32,98 tonnes in the first nine months of the year, up from 24,2 tonnes during the same period in 2024.
According to the latest data from Fidelity Gold Refinery, this impressive growth places the country firmly on track to achieve its ambitious 40-tonne target by year-end.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector to prioritise responsible mining, says Minister Chitando
MINES Minister Winston Chitando said Mine Entra has been a platform to connect Government officials and mining players in the mining sector.
Minister Chitando said the Mine Entra brings together producers who come to ensure that they get value for money for the services, with suppliers also here to showcase their products.
“The mining industry is growing at a fast pace in all minerals across the sector, with most importantly being the value addition.
He said that by early next year, the country will have the production of lithium sulphate.
Minister Chitando said this year’s theme is very important, with the future of mining falling in the ethos and principles of responsible mining.
“Phase one of responsible mining initiatives was launched last year, but was to emphasise the need to follow the laws that are in place, and phase two will be launched soon and it will be beyond the laws but ensure that everyone in the sector follows responsible mining.”
He said responsible mining also consists of responsible sourcing, with local sourcing advised.
“The future of mining will be for all stakeholders in the mining sector to behave responsibly,” said Minister Chitando.
Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must benefit all — Acting President Chiwenga
Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Zimbabwe’s vast mineral endowment benefits all citizens, stressing that the country is “open for business, not for extraction.”
Speaking at the official opening of the 28th edition of the Mine Entra Conference in Bulawayo today, Acting President Chiwenga said Zimbabwe is abundantly blessed with natural resources, which must serve as a foundation for broad-based empowerment and sustainable development.
He said the nation’s mineral wealth should never be exploited for personal enrichment, but should instead be harnessed for the collective good — including through partnerships with responsible foreign investors.
“To foreign investors, Zimbabwe is open for business and not for extraction — I repeat, not for extraction,” he said.
The Acting President said the Government seeks mutually beneficial partnerships anchored on value addition, beneficiation, and technological advancement, adding that Mine Entra provides a strategic platform for robust dialogue within one of the country’s most critical economic sectors.
He underscored that mining remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing about 14,5 percent of GDP and supporting the livelihoods of thousands across the nation.
“The mining sector remains pivotal to our national aspirations,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said this year’s Mine Entra theme was both timely and visionary, challenging the nation to reimagine the mining industry — moving from the traditional model of raw mineral extraction to one focused on beneficiation and the export of finished products.
The high-profile exhibition, which began yesterday is being held under the theme “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining,” focusing on sustainability, technology, and investment opportunities within Zimbabwe’s mining sector — one of the key pillars of national economic growth
“It requires every gram extracted to translate into jobs created,” he said.
Addressing miners directly, the Acting President urged them to act as custodians of the nation’s mineral wealth, stressing the need for integrity and patriotism in resource management.
“You are the custodians of our mineral wealth. Handle it with integrity, exploit it as a national trust and not for personal gain,” he said.
Dr Chiwenga said Government’s vision was to ensure that every Zimbabwean — today and in future generations — benefits from the country’s natural resources.
Our live updates end here, thank you for following!
Peter Tanyanyiwa