Dr Tonderai Chikande and his executive team have been re-elected to lead the Mine Ventilation Society of Zimbabwe (MVSZ) following the Society’s Annual General Meeting held in Bulawayo on Friday; Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
Chikande retained the presidency, with Robert Chirwa, Ndinotenda Zihove (Secretary), Andrew Mapfumo (Treasurer), Pupuete Kaluzi (Organising Secretary), Joshua Tigere and Itai Kahoka also retaining their positions on the executive.
The re-election followed the Society’s two-day annual conference, which brought together mine ventilation professionals to discuss industry challenges, technical developments and the role of ventilation in improving mining safety.
Speaking after the AGM, Chikande said collaboration with Government, training institutions and regional and international professional bodies would be central to the Society’s agenda during its new term.
“Our region is mainly anchored on collaboration. Starting here, following the mandate given to us by the Deputy Minister of Mines, Hon. Fred Moyo, we are going to collaborate with Government and ensure that we execute these assignments which were given to us.
“We are also going to collaborate with institutions so that we develop our future skills pipeline and intensify regional collaboration,” he said.
Chikande added that his appointment as an Executive Committee member of the International Mine Ventilation Congress would provide further opportunities for international collaboration and the adoption of best practices.
“By doing so, we can adopt best practices from developed countries,” he said.
The Society’s renewed focus on collaboration comes amid growing concerns over occupational health and safety in Zimbabwe’s mining industry, particularly silica dust exposure and silicosis among mine workers.
At the conference, Chikande challenged mining professionals to extend their expertise beyond established operations and help artisanal and small-scale miners adopt practical and affordable dust-control measures.
The leadership is expected to use its renewed mandate to strengthen the profession’s contribution to safer mining practices and build technical capacity across the industry.
