BULAWAYO, Jul. 30 (NewsDay Live) – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has urged Zimbabwe’s mining industry to intensify investment in mineral exploration, warning that countries that secure critical mineral resources today will shape the future of the global economy.
Speaking at the inaugural Exploration Symposium held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo, Chiwenga said Zimbabwe stood at a pivotal moment as global demand for critical minerals accelerated alongside advances in artificial intelligence, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.
The symposium was held under the theme, “Defining the Future of Zimbabwe Mining Through Exploration.”
“Our decisions today regarding exploration, technology investment, skills development and responsible resource management will shape the future of our mining industry for generations to come,” Chiwenga said.
“Global demand for critical minerals is rising as nations accelerate the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Critical minerals now underpin digital transformation, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.”
He said Zimbabwe’s vast mineral endowment presented a rare opportunity to become a key player in the global minerals value chain but warned that the country could not benefit fully from resources that remained unexplored.
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“Zimbabwe holds a vast endowment of these critical minerals and energy elements. This presents us with a historic opportunity to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution only if we invest in understanding the full extent of our mineral wealth.
“We cannot benefit from resources that remain undiscovered, poorly understood or inadequately mapped.”
Chiwenga said the symposium brought together government, investors, financiers, researchers and industry players to identify ways of expanding geological knowledge, attracting responsible investment and unlocking the full value of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.
“Beyond acknowledging our mineral wealth, we must define what it means for our national development agenda, how it can accelerate industrialisation, strengthen economic resilience, create opportunities and secure shared prosperity for present and future generations,” he said.
The Vice President said the Mines and Minerals Act provides a transparent legal framework for mineral exploration through prospecting licences and special grants, adding that ongoing reforms would make Zimbabwe’s mining sector more competitive and aligned with international best practice.
He also highlighted progress towards the implementation of a computerised mining cadastral system.
“Once fully operational, these reforms will digitise more than 60,000 mining titles, significantly reducing overlapping claims, improving administrative efficiency and enhancing transparency across the sector,” Chiwenga said.
He said the reforms were consistent with the African Mining Vision, which seeks to transform the continent’s mineral wealth into a driver of industrialisation, regional integration and sustainable economic growth.
Chiwenga also challenged universities and the mining industry to deepen collaboration in developing the next generation of geologists, engineers and mining professionals equipped with modern technical skills.
He said artisanal and small-scale miners, together with junior exploration companies, remained a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s mining industry, supporting thousands of livelihoods and contributing significantly to national mineral output.
“There is need to create an enabling environment and supportive investment policies to allow this sector to thrive and attract new capital into mineral exploration,” he said.
Chiwenga also called on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and development partners to develop innovative financing mechanisms to support mineral exploration projects, saying improved access to capital would be critical to unlocking the country’s untapped mineral potential.