Londile Moyo
Freedom Mupanedemo, Midlands Bureau
THE Women in Mining Zimbabwe (WiM) has pioneered a national model aimed at turning female mining students into mine owners, filling what organisers call a ‘critical business skills gap’ in traditional technical training.
The initiative began in January 2025 at the Zimbabwe School of Mines in Bulawayo when WIM helped establish the Women in Mining Student Chapter.
The group is now driving what it calls the Student Chapter Movement, designed to “catch them young” and transition female students from academic learners into industrial owners.
The programme’s momentum was highlighted at the recent Hope Fay Public Lecture at the Women’s University of Africa (WUA), delivered by Dr Faith Mutete in collaboration with WUA and ZSM.
The lecture served as a progress report for a movement that WiM Zimbabwe said is already advancing Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Mutete, an alumnus of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, said the model was born after she spotted a systemic void in mining education.
“I saw a gap where our brilliant students were being trained to be employees rather than employers,” she said.
To address it, she developed a proprietary incubation process powered by the DreamBuilder App through the U.S. Embassy’s AWE programme to turn technical students into what the organisation calls “Minepreneurs”.
WIM Zimbabwe stresses that while universities provide the venue, its model is the engine driving results. The hybrid programme merges engineering skills with a “Mining as a Business” curriculum and links students to international platforms, including the African Mining Indaba in Cape Town.
The organisation also lobbied Fidelity Gold Refinery to lower gold incentive thresholds to 0.5kg, creating an entry point for graduates.
The first cohort, which concluded in late 2025, produced 88 certified Minepreneurs and an “Elite 8” with fully viable business plans. The second cohort is now undergoing 13 weeks of intensive mentorship in 2026.
Students say the programme is changing career trajectories.
Ms Tendai Kadye, 21, a metallurgical engineering student and WIM ZSM Student Chapter member, said attending Mining Indaba in Cape Town taught her that ownership is the ultimate goal.
Emelda Masaraure, the outgoing 2025 WIM ZSM Student Chapter Director, said the 13-week model shifted her perspective on the mining value chain, moving her from a focus on lapidary gemstone cutting to business ownership.
WIM Zimbabwe is now cascading the blueprint to Midlands State University, Gwanda State University, Bindura University of Science Education and the Women’s University of Africa.
“We are bringing a proven, plug-and-play model to these universities,” Dr Mutete said.
“The universities provide the brilliant young minds; WIM Zimbabwe provides the roadmap to turn those minds into mine owners.”
To maintain standards, WIM Zimbabwe remains the sole architect and coordinating body of the movement. All strategic partnerships, donor enquiries and sponsorship proposals are to be directed to the WIM Zimbabwe Secretariat.
Online Reporter