Zimbabwe has officially announced the launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week, a new annual international conference and exhibition aimed at positioning the country as a competitive player in the global critical minerals economy.
Hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and organised by VUKA Group in partnership with founding partner Nzuri Communications, the inaugural event will take place from 17 to 19 November 2026 at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Venue in Harare.
The conference has been established as the country’s official national platform bringing together government, mining companies, investors, financiers and solution providers focused on unlocking Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth through processing, industrialisation, energy integration and sustainable value addition.
Shifting the focus beyond extraction
Zimbabwe Mining Week seeks to move the national and international conversation beyond raw mineral extraction and exports towards ecosystem led growth across the full mining value chain. The agenda will include local processing and refining, downstream industrialisation, rising energy demand, infrastructure development, ESG integration and long term economic resilience.
Zimbabwe is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most geologically endowed mining jurisdictions. The country holds significant deposits of gold, platinum group metals, lithium, chrome, nickel, coal and a range of industrial minerals. Mining currently contributes about 13 percent of Zimbabwe’s national GDP, underscoring the sector’s strategic importance to the economy.
The launch comes at a time when Zimbabwe is undergoing policy reforms, re engaging with global partners and positioning itself to benefit from surging global demand for battery and critical minerals required for the energy transition.
Government endorsement
Endorsing the initiative, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Polite Kambamura, said the event would strengthen Zimbabwe’s standing as an investment destination.
“The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week is a critical step in positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive global mining destination. By bringing together decision makers, investors and operators, this platform supports transparency, policy consistency and sustainable investment, while helping translate our mineral wealth into inclusive growth, job creation and long term national development,” he said.
Strategic platform for global engagement
Tichaona Mawoni, Chief Executive Officer of Nzuri Communications and founding partner of the event, said the summit would place Zimbabwe at the centre of global conversations on critical minerals.
“The launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week is a strategic move to place Zimbabwe at the centre of the global critical minerals dialogue. As founding partners with VUKA Group, we have created a world class platform that stands alongside its sister summits in the DRC and Nigeria,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is moving beyond the outdated narrative of simply extracting resources. Our focus is on building a robust mining ecosystem that prioritises domestic processing, industrialisation and value addition, ensuring the real benefits of our mineral wealth are retained within our borders.”
Mawoni added that the platform aims to convene global investors and policy leaders to help shape the future of the sector and position Zimbabwe as a leader in supplying minerals essential to the green energy transition.
Connecting Africa to global capital
David Ashdown, Chief Executive Officer of VUKA Group, said the organisation had long recognised Zimbabwe’s mining potential and its capacity to drive sustainable economic growth.
“VUKA Group’s purpose is to connect Africa to the world’s best to influence sustainable progress, and Zimbabwe Mining Week reflects that ambition in action,” he said.
“With the support of the Ministry and our partners, we are confident in our ability to connect people and organisations to information and to each other in ways that drive investment, enable industrialisation and unlock long term opportunity for Zimbabwe.”
Platform linking policy and capital
Zimbabwe Mining Week aims to provide direct access to policymakers, project developers, investors and international partners. Organisers say the event will serve as a meeting point where policy meets capital, processing meets power and mineral resources are transformed into sustainable economic value.
The conference is expected to become a cornerstone event in Zimbabwe’s efforts to strengthen its mining sector and accelerate economic development through responsible and value driven resource management.