Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, Zimpapers Business Hub
PREPARATIONS for Zimbabwe’s premier mining, engineering, and transport expo, Mine Entra, scheduled for October 8 to 10, 2025, are at an advanced stage with the small-scale mining sector identifying the platform as a vehicle for growth, giving them an opportunity to synergise and engage with policy makers.
Organised by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), the event has provided players in the mining sector with a networking platform which links suppliers, policy makers, potential investors, and other key stakeholders.
Running under the theme, “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the future of mining,” excitement is building as the expo which is on its 28th edition approaches.
In an interview, Young Miners Foundation (YMF) chief executive officer Mr Payne Kupfuwa said small-scale miners have benefited from the platform, managing to get investors, cheap supplies, and investors through different initiatives that happen during Mine Entra.
“Most of the developments that happened within the YMF and the small-scale miners’ community are benefits from Mine Entra, where we have been able to get affordable supplies and different services, and we benefited from the informative conferences, which give insights and oversight of what is going on in the industry,” said Mr Kupfuwa.
“We also get to connect with policy makers and key stakeholders in the mining value chain, which has also assisted us in the professionalisation and formalisation of our small-scale mining activities.
“We also gained insight into how to extract other minerals like gemstones, lithium, and chrome, as we were used to focusing only on gold mining.”
Small-scale mining remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy, delivering higher output than large-scale mining companies.
The sector employs over 300 000 people and plays a key role in reducing poverty.
Mr Kupfuwa said Mine Entra has contributed to the growth of the small-scale mining sector adding that they have since started preparing for the upcoming event, where players will exhibit and attend different platforms.
“We look forward to exhibiting, participating at different conferences, networking, and getting insights on different legislations, which include the new Mines and Minerals Bill, investors, conflicts and disputes resolution, and everything that is happening in small-scale mining,” he said.
“So, we have since started preparing as YMF, and we have four companies under YMF that will also be exhibiting at our stand.
“We look forward to meeting more partners, investors, and people to work with as we develop, formalise, and professionalise our operations. We continue to re-write and redefine the small-scale mining narrative through increased formalisation and professionalisation of the industry.”
The Government continues to call for the urgent formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector to create an environment that allows for the taxation of its players, as well as facilitating benefits from co-ordinated Government programmes.
Through Mine Entra, ZMF offers small and artisanal miners a networking platform through the ZMF Small-Scale and Artisanal Miners Conference.
In its concept note, ZMF said the ASM sector is a vital pillar of Zimbabwe’s economic development, contributing significantly to national gold output and improvement of rural livelihoods.
However, the sector’s full potential is yet to be realised due to challenges including access to finance, outdated technology, regulatory hurdles, and environmental concerns.
Held as the cornerstone closing event of the prestigious Mine Entra 2025 Expo, the miners’ conference is designed to build on the expo’s theme of, “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining”, by focusing specifically on the ASM sector.
It provides a unique, high-level platform to convene all critical stakeholders under one roof to dialogue, collaborate, and devise actionable strategies for the sustainable and profitable growth of small-scale mining in Zimbabwe.
ZMF chief executive officer Mr Wellington Takavarasha said the primary objective of the ZMF Small Scale and Artisanal Miners Conference 2025 is to build a collaborative ecosystem that drives the formalisation, modernisation, and sustainable development of the ASM sector in Zimbabwe.
Expected outcomes from the conference include enhanced regulatory understanding, public-private dialogue, access to solutions, a formalisation pathway, and sustainability.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando is set to give the keynote address.
Junior Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe secretary general Mr Dosman Mangisi said networking is a critical component in any business, society, and sector, with Mine Entra providing a platform for such.
He said mining is the anchor of many economies in Africa, adding that Mine Entra plays a key role in providing a platform to discuss issues affecting the sector.
“The key component of that is the networking point, where stakeholders, players, and experts meet to come up with viable solutions towards the ease of doing business, because at the end of the day, the main thrust is the ease of doing business in the mining industry,” said Mr Mangisi.
He added that there is need to improve the financing of the mining sector as financial institutions are reluctant to fund the sector.
ZITF marketing and corporate communications manager Mr Thandolwenkosi Nkomo said small-scale miners should expect a highly inclusive and empowering experience at Mine Entra 2025.
He said the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Small Scale and Artisanal Miners Conference scheduled for October 10 will provide a platform for dialogue, learning and networking.
“The event will promote the participation of small-scale miners in the broader mining value chain, offering access to business matchmaking tools, investment opportunities, and policy engagement,” said Mr Nkomo.
“Through Mine Entra 2025, we hope to ensure that small-scale miners are not only visible but are also active contributors to Zimbabwe’s mining future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mine Entra is this year running concurrently with the Africa Infrastructure Built Environment Conference, Expo (Africonfex), with the combination set to amplify cross-sectoral engagement, attract a broader spectrum of stakeholders, and foster meaningful synergies.
Mr Nkomo said hosting Mine Entra and Africonfex concurrently gives players in these somewhat related sectors the opportunity to interact and explore available products to enhance their operations and explore potential partnerships.
“These events provide an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas between investors and buyers of goods and services,” said Mr Nkomo.
Mr Takavarasha said having Mine Entra and Africonfex running at the same time will allow the sectors to synergise, taking into consideration that the machinery used by both sectors is the same.
“The equipment that is used for construction is the same yellow equipment that is used for mining so having Mine Entra and Africonfex running concurrently gives the small-scale miners a wider choice of service providers,” said Mr Takavarasha.
Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) president Dr Tinashe Manzungu said Africonfex is mainly held to harness the players in the construction industry, starting from contractors, quantity surveyors, engineers and suppliers of equipment, material, and machinery.
He said it is the time of the year when players meet and engage on how they can improve the environment in Zimbabwe.
“This year, Mine Entra and Africonfex are coming together. It is the same industry when I look at it,” said Dr Manzungu.
He said most contractors were working within mines.
Dr Manzungu said having the two running concurrently will make it easier for suppliers of materials, equipment, or equipment parts to come together.
“We also expect to meet the miners, the big companies that are now flocking to Zimbabwe,” he added.
This year, Africonfex is running under the theme: “Smart Moves: Powering Zimbabwe’s Infrastructure Evolution”.
Dr Manzungu said traction is being noted in both infrastructure and superstructure projects, in housing projects and commercial properties, including infrastructure for public utility, dams, irrigation facilities and energy projects, among others.
He said the sector expects to see policymakers making presentations on how they can synchronise, lubricate, and ensure ease of doing business in the construction sector.
