Mine Entra 2026 has attracted record industry participation ahead of its official opening, signalling growing confidence in Zimbabwe’s mining sector as the country’s premier mining exhibition places greater emphasis on mineral beneficiation and value addition, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The 29th edition of the mining, engineering and transport showcase has recorded strong growth across key performance indicators, with exhibition space nearing full capacity, exhibitor numbers rising, and business visitor registrations almost doubling compared with last year’s edition.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the official opening, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company Chief Executive Officer Nick Ndebele said the strong turnout demonstrated growing confidence from local, regional and international industry players.
“This year’s edition has seen remarkable growth across all major performance metrics compared to the previous year, which really demonstrates strong confidence from local, regional as well as global industry players,” Ndebele said.
Exhibition space uptake has reached 98%, with 8,853 square metres booked against a target of 9,000 square metres, compared with 7,368 square metres recorded at last year’s exhibition.
A total of 276 direct exhibitors have registered for this year’s edition, representing a 20% increase from the 231 exhibitors recorded last year.
International participation has also expanded, with 33 exhibitors from nine countries — Botswana, China, India, Mauritius, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, the United States, and Zambia — compared with 20 foreign exhibitors from four countries at the previous edition.
Business visitor registrations have surged to 6,453, almost double last year’s 3,355, with executives, engineers, geologists, financiers, government representatives and other key industry stakeholders expected to attend the three-day event.
The increased participation comes as Mine Entra continues to evolve beyond a traditional mining exhibition into a platform supporting Zimbabwe’s broader mining transformation agenda, particularly the push towards beneficiation and value addition.
Held under the theme, “An Earth Transformed to Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains,” this year’s edition focuses on moving discussions beyond raw mineral extraction towards developing stronger local mining value chains.
Ndebele said the theme reflects the Government’s growing emphasis on ensuring Zimbabwe derives greater economic value from its mineral resources through increased processing and downstream industrial development.
“Mine Entra 2026 shifts the conversation beyond raw mineral extraction. We have seen that Government has been quite intentional in that thrust to emphasise issues around beneficiation as well as value addition, and this is where we derive our theme,” he said.
Zimbabwe has in recent years intensified efforts to promote mineral beneficiation, particularly in strategic minerals such as lithium and chrome, as the country seeks to retain more value from its mineral wealth, support local industries and create employment opportunities.
With mining contributing about 16% of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product and the country endowed with more than 60 commercially exploitable minerals, including gold, platinum, lithium, chrome, coal and rare earth elements, Ndebele said Mine Entra provides a platform to promote cleaner technologies, stronger local linkages and sustainable mining practices.
Beyond the exhibition floor, Mine Entra 2026 will feature an expanded Buyers’ Programme designed to connect equipment suppliers and service providers with procurement leaders from 25 major mining houses through structured business-to-business meetings.
The programme is expected to strengthen commercial partnerships, improve local supplier participation and create opportunities for mining-related businesses.
Mine Entra 2026 is being held from July 29 to 31 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo in partnership with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to officially open the exhibition on Friday.
