With less than two weeks until the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) 2025 kicks off, the focus is sharp on the next generation of industry leaders. The event will begin on 15 September with the ZAMI Youth Symposium, a platform designed for and by young people, underscoring their critical role in shaping a fair and sustainable mining sector.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
This year’s theme, “Empowering Youth for a Just and Sustainable Mining Future: Driving Inclusive Growth in the Just Energy Transition,” builds directly on the momentum from the 2024 symposium, where participants demanded greater youth involvement in mining governance and policy-making.
The 2025 gathering is set to move from dialogue to action, focusing on the tangible role of youth in the mining sector’s transition to greener energy. Central to this effort is the #ZELO youth network, which has declared its readiness to confront the structural and economic barriers that have long limited young people’s participation across the mining value chain—from exploration and extraction to processing and governance.
“Are you ready?” the network’s message challenges, signaling a determined call to action directed at industry stakeholders, policymakers, and fellow young professionals.
The symposium arrives at a crucial time for Zimbabwe’s mining industry, which is simultaneously pursuing modern investment and stricter environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Integrating youth perspectives is increasingly seen not as optional, but as essential to ensuring the energy transition is both just and inclusive.
As ZAMI 2025 approaches, the question for established players is clear: Is the industry prepared to not only listen to youth voices but also to hand them the tools to help build mining’s future?
