THE sound of high-capacity pumps at Redwing Mine provides the soundtrack to one of the biggest gold restart stories underway in Africa.
The site is the centrepiece of one of Zimbabwe’s biggest mining revival projects, led by a Nasdaq-listed company backed by international investors, including those from the United States, seeking exposure to gold and high-potential mining assets.
Since late January this year, Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, which had been under care and maintenance, has pumped more than 544 000 cubic metres of water from the mine, lowering water levels by nearly 22 metres.
New power lines are being installed and equipment is being shipped to the site.
Who is Namib Minerals?
The company behind the Redwing Mine restart is Namib Minerals, which is making one of the largest new gold investment commitments underway in Zimbabwe as global investors increase exposure to gold producers amid sustained high bullion prices and renewed interest in African resource assets.
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Namib listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in New York in 2025, in what was the largest Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) deal in African history.
The listing has brought American and international institutional investors into the company, highlighting strong global interest in Namib’s asset base and long-term growth strategy. It also gives Namib access to capital pools often inaccessible to regional peers.
Namib’s Zimbabwe portfolio includes How Mine near Bulawayo, alongside restart projects at Redwing Mine and Mazowe Mine.
The company’s strategy is to use the operational stability at How Mine as a model for Redwing and Mazowe, both mines with significant resources.
How Mine gives Namib something investors value highly, proof that it can run large-scale operations profitably.
The proven success of How Mine is now being rolled out to Redwing and Mazowe.
“How Mine remains a very strong asset and we are proud that the operation is a symbol of our track record in delivering value, whether to shareholders, government or communities,” according to chief executive officer Tulani Sikwila.
New leadership
Sikwila took over as CEO in March, representing a leadership transition that will lead the next phase of expansion.
A chartered accountant, who started his career at Ernst & Young Zimbabwe, Sikwila has worked across finance, operations and leadership roles within the group.
“I am humbled to be taking up this responsibility at a key moment in the company’s history,” he said.
“I have been part of this business for two decades, across various leadership positions in finance, operations and leadership.
“I know these assets. I am tuned in to the operating environment. I know the communities around our operations.”
For Namib, the next phase is about scaling production and unlocking the value of its Zimbabwe assets.
“We want to build a capital-efficient African mining platform, one that creates real value for investors, employees, and the communities we operate in,” Sikwila said.
“The success of How Mine as an operation shows our capacity as a business. But the real opportunity is in unlocking the full potential of our asset base.
“Redwing and Mazowe are brownfield projects with very good resource endowments. Getting them back to full, formalised production is our priority right now.”
Brownfield projects such as Redwing and Mazowe are attractive in a strong gold market because they already have infrastructure and historical workings, making them cheaper to operate than starting entirely new mines.
Namib plans to invest between US$300 million and US$400 million in restarting and expanding Redwing and Mazowe.
“As we reinvest, improve efficiencies, and expand exploration, we expect production to grow beyond these levels,” Sikwila said.
Technical capacity
As it prepares for expansion, Namib is also strengthening its technical team.
The company recently appointed Antonio Nieto vice-president for technical services, bringing more than 25 years of international mining experience to the group.
International firm WSP Global has been engaged to lead definitive feasibility studies across Namib’s assets, including Redwing.
Job creation and community
The investment story also carries major implications for jobs for Zimbabweans.
Some workers at Redwing and Mazowe have started returning as rehabilitation work accelerates.
Direct employment across Namib’s Zimbabwe operations is expected to rise from 1 375 jobs to around 3 100 as Redwing and Mazowe return to production, excluding indirect jobs created through local procurement and supplier development.
Beyond production, the company also plans to replicate How Mine’s community model at Redwing and Mazowe.
At How Mine, Namib has supported healthcare infrastructure projects in Bulawayo and across Matabeleland provinces while operating a clinic that provides free basic healthcare services.
“At Redwing, for example, we are upgrading the mine clinic, which provides free basic healthcare to the surrounding community,” Sikwila explains.
“A new ambulance has been acquired to serve the community and the mine bus will be available for local schoolchildren. It’s just the start of many community partnership projects.”
Namib’s rehabilitation work, funding discussions and technical studies are all advancing in parallel, positioning the revival of Redwing and Mazowe as one of the largest gold growth stories emerging in Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
“What I want people to understand is that this is not just a plan on paper,” Sikwila said.
“It is already in motion.”