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Zimbabwe sets November 2026 date for inaugural mining indaba
Zimbabwe on Monday unveiled plans for the inaugural Zimbabwe Mining Week, an international conference and exhibition scheduled for 17–19 November 2026 in Harare, as the country steps up efforts to strengthen its position in the global critical minerals economy.
The event, hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and organised by VUKA Group in partnership with Nzuri Communications, is designed to become the country’s official annual platform for government, mining companies, investors and financiers.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the launch of Zimbabwe Mining Week marked “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,” Kambamura said.
Authorities say the gathering will support Zimbabwe’s push to build a US$12‑billion mining industry by promoting investment, policy dialogue and value‑added mineral development.
Mining contributes about 13 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP, with the country holding significant deposits of lithium, gold, platinum group metals, chrome, nickel and coal.
Rising global demand for battery and critical minerals has intensified pressure on Zimbabwe to shift from raw mineral exports to domestic processing, refining and downstream industrialisation.
Nzuri Communications chief executive Tichaona Mawoni said the initiative aims to place Zimbabwe “at the centre of the global critical minerals dialogue,” noting that the country is moving beyond an extractive model towards a broader mining ecosystem that prioritises value addition and industrialisation.
“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.”
VUKA Group chief executive David Ashdown said Zimbabwe’s mineral endowment and reform momentum made the country well‑positioned to attract long‑term capital.
He said the conference would connect policymakers, project developers and investors in ways that “drive investment, enable industrialisation and unlock long‑term opportunity.”
Organisers say Zimbabwe Mining Week will focus on the full mining value chain, including processing, energy integration, infrastructure, ESG standards and economic resilience as the country seeks to align its mineral wealth with national development goals.