Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
SMART mining technologies powered by advanced connectivity, cloud platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to redefine Zimbabwe’s mining industry, with Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zimbabwe vice-president and chief executive officer, Ms Lorreta Songola saying digital transformation is becoming critical for improving productivity, strengthening worker safety and enhancing the sector’s global competitiveness.
The shift comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to build a US$12 billion mining industry, with Government prioritising investment in strategic minerals such as lithium, gold, platinum group metals and chrome.
The country has attracted billions of dollars in new mining investments in recent years, particularly in lithium processing projects, as global demand for critical minerals used in electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies continues to surge.
Mining remains one of Zimbabwe’s most important economic pillars, contributing about 13,5 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating nearly 80 percent of export earnings and attracting an estimated 70 percent of foreign direct investment.
In a statement, Ms Songola said digital transformation was no longer an option but a business imperative for mining companies seeking to remain competitive.
“For mining companies, the challenge is clear: how to increase production, improve safety and control costs while meeting growing investor and regulatory expectations.
“Smart mining technologies, powered by advanced connectivity, cloud platforms and AI-driven insights, are increasingly providing the tools needed to achieve these outcomes.
“This is creating new opportunities for organisations to operate more efficiently, reduce operational risk and unlock greater value from their assets,” she said.
Ms Songola said the emergence of smart mines, where connected infrastructure, operational technology and AI-powered analytics work together, is fundamentally changing the management of mining operations.
She said technologies such as intelligent video analytics can automatically monitor compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, detect workers entering restricted zones and trigger safety interventions, while connected operational technology can halt underground machinery when dangerous conditions are detected.
Cloud-connected systems are also enabling mining companies to remotely monitor critical infrastructure such as smelters, demonstrating how connectivity has evolved from being merely a communications tool into an essential operational platform.
Combined with advanced data analytics, these technologies are helping mining companies transition from reactive decision-making to predictive, intelligence-led operations that improve equipment reliability, minimise downtime and optimise resource allocation.
Ms Songola also identified cybersecurity as an increasingly critical component of modern mining operations.
“As mining companies connect more equipment, sensors and operational technology to their networks, cyber threats increasingly have the potential to disrupt production, compromise worker safety and affect business continuity,” she said, adding that protecting digital infrastructure had become central to operational resilience.
She said Zimbabwe’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030) provides a timely framework for accelerating AI adoption across strategic sectors, including mining, positioning the country to harness emerging technologies to improve productivity and innovation.
According to Ms Songola, mining companies that invest in intelligent digital infrastructure today will be better positioned to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety, attract investment and compete in an increasingly technology-driven global mining industry.
“Those that embrace this shift stand to unlock sustainable growth and long-term value,” she said.
