admincountry hard pressed for funds to jolt production, fresh investment would help increase mineral output.
Spokesperson for this year’s edition of the annual Mining Indaba Mr Forbes Zaranyika said the event would have a regional focus.
“This year’s edition has a regional outlook and focuses on dialogue as a way to unlock and boost foreign investment into the country’s mining sector,” said Mr Zaranyika.
Organisers of the indaba Utho Capital said the main objective was to portray Zimbabwe’s potential as a powerhouse in mining and the hub of infrastructure in the region.
The event brings together policy- makers, players from the mining sector, construction industry, development finance institutions, private equity players, banks, consulting houses and infrastructure specialists among many others. There is huge interest from external investors amid revelations that they have taken up 90 percent of exhibition space.
But over the last four years cash-rich foreign investors have watched from a distance due to policy uncertainties.
This is despite the fact that the country boasts over 40 mineral occurrences with easy to good geological make-up that includes gold, platinum, diamonds, coal and nickel.
Discussions will cover the new mining strategy, diamond policy and Act, efforts to solve the power crisis, building new or rehabilitating poor infrastructure. Regional integration, co-operation and finance will also be debated. Mining is key to Zimbabwe’s economic growth, contributing over 50 percent of its foreign currency inflows and about 12 percent to the Gross Domestic Product.
In that regard a strong cast of mining industry experts and Government officials has been lined up to present at the event.
The speakers include Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, Chamber of Mines president Mr Winston Chitando, and Mines secretary Mr Prince Mupazvirihwo.
Foreign mining experts from chambers of mines of Ghana, Botswana, DRC and Zambia namely Dr Tony Aubynn, Mr Charles Siwawa, Mr Thiery Kankwala and Mr Frederick Bantubotse will be among the high profile speakers at the four-day event to discuss mining in Zimbabwe.
AfrAsia director Mr Nigel Chanakira, Merlin Trade and Consultancy chairman Mr Gerard McCloskey, IDBZ infrastructure acting director Mr Alex Machimbirike and KPMG partner Mr Klaus Findt will also be present.
Other experts expected to grace the event are Lontoh Coal founding president Mr Tsepo Kgadima, BancABC chief risk officer Dr Blessing Mudavanhu and Liberation Mining technical services director Engineer Peter Mutsinya.
Online Reporter
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