Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

The mining industry is evolving rapidly, with technology, safety, and leadership playing increasingly crucial roles. Mining Zimbabwe recently posed a thought-provoking question to students and graduates on Facebook: What skill should universities or institutions focus on more? The responses revealed significant gaps in current mining education and highlighted areas for improvement.

Here is what students and graduates had to say.

1. More Industry Experience and Practical Training

One of the most common concerns raised was the need for more hands-on experience while studying. Tendai Chivhima emphasized the importance of structured vacation work during academic breaks, arguing that it should be made mandatory. This sentiment was echoed by others who believe practical exposure beyond attachments is essential in bridging the gap between theory and real-world mining operations.

Tendai Chivhima emphasized: “Students should be given the opportunity to gain industry experience while studying, not just during attachment but also through structured vacation work. Making vacation work mandatory during academic breaks would allow students to build practical confidence.”

2. Mining Safety and Equipment Training

Mining safety emerged as a critical concern. Thadiwanashe Musande Mudyiradimah stressed that institutions must reinforce the importance of safety protocols and equipment maintenance. Many graduates enter the workforce without adequate training in these areas, which could have life-threatening consequences.

Thadiwanashe Thassissió Musande Mudyiradimah pointed out: “Mining safety is no joke. I think universities and institutions should focus more on teaching students about safety protocols and equipment maintenance. Hands-on training and simulations should be a core part of the curriculum.”

Similarly, Tariro Mafukidze highlighted: “Safety as a student yourself first.”

Samuel Mushuku added that mining engineers and technicians should be trained to operate key mining equipment, such as drill jumbos, bolters, Load Haul Dumps (LHDs), and utility vehicles.

3. Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

While technical knowledge is essential, Kundai Audrey Kang pointed out that leadership and emotional intelligence are often overlooked in mining education. Effective communication and decision-making skills are crucial for managing teams and navigating workplace challenges.

Kundai Audrey Kang observed: “So far they have been hammering us towards innovation, but leadership skills are missing. Emotional intelligence should also be a focus.”

Bonginkosi Babrah Moeketsi humorously added: “Answering why you are not blasting! 🤣 Also, people skills because we deal a lot with different kinds of people”.

4. Mastering Mining Software and Technology

The mining industry is becoming increasingly digital, yet many students graduate without proficiency in essential mining software. Careen Chihlangu and Delighty Chewe highlighted the need for universities to introduce industry-standard software such as METSIM, mine planning tools, and process control systems. Automation and digital transformation are shaping the future of mining, and students must be equipped to keep up.

Careen Chihlangu stated: “Softwares, and keeping up with the industry’s evolving technologies.”

Delighty Chewe added: “Designing, process control, and mine planning software should be taught at universities. It’s regrettable that we only get to know of METSIM and other key programs at the processing plant.”

5. Application and Career Readiness Support

Several comments, including those from Tinomutenda Puramu and Oscar Beyi, pointed out that many students struggle with job applications and securing attachments. Universities should offer training on writing CVs, applying for positions, and networking with industry professionals to ease this transition.

Tinomutenda Puramu remarked: “They have to teach students how to write CVs and how to apply to companies because this is one of the reasons many struggle to get attachments.”

Oscar Beyi echoed this sentiment, saying: “Universities should assist students in securing attachments because some of us are stuck due to a lack of opportunities.”

6. Blasting and Licensing Requirements

A recurring theme in the discussion was the need for early exposure to full blasting license (FBL) and mine blasting license (MBL) modules. Commenters such as Kelvin Murira, Thando Matshazi, and Webster Dube stressed that these certifications should be offered while students are still in school to ensure they are job-ready upon graduation.

7. Rock Mechanics and Ventilation Engineering

Linda Chitsvare suggested that universities should introduce standalone certifications in rock mechanics and rock engineering instead of offering them as just modules. Gilbert Madhuze added that ventilation engineering should be emphasized, given its critical role in underground mining operations.

8. Advanced Data Analytics and Geospatial Analysis

Modern mining requires strong data interpretation skills. Israel Chiradza and Munya Musariri called for universities to integrate GIS mapping, geospatial analysis, and data analytics into the curriculum to help students better understand mineral exploration and resource management.

9. Business and Cost Management in Mining

Beyond technical skills, Revel Simasiku Malundu pointed out that cost-reduction strategies are often ignored in mining education. Understanding how to optimize operational costs is a vital skill for future mining managers and investors.

10. Industry-Driven Curriculum Development

Aubbrey Njolomole summed it up well: “You can’t focus much as a student unless the industry tells you what to focus on. The industry dictates what universities need to emphasize.” This highlights the need for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and the mining sector to ensure that students are learning skills relevant to industry demands.

The discussion revealed a consensus on the need for more hands-on experience, enhanced safety training, leadership development, software proficiency, career support, and industry-relevant certifications. Addressing these gaps will better prepare mining graduates for the workforce, ensuring that they contribute effectively to Zimbabwe’s mining sector.

Universities and training institutions must take these insights into account to bridge the divide between academia and industry expectations.

Investor interest in platinum is surging due to a persistent supply deficit, rising demand, and a widening price gap with gold, making it an increasingly attractive asset.

By Ryan Chigoche

With gold prices soaring recently, this disparity has caught the attention of investors, particularly in Europe and North America, where platinum’s relatively lower price presents a compelling diversification opportunity.

Investors are engaging with platinum through multiple avenues, including physical holdings such as bars and coins, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track platinum prices, and futures contracts on commodity exchanges like NYMEX.

While some may also invest indirectly through shares in platinum mining companies, the current market focus is primarily on physical platinum and financial instruments tied to its price movements.

Since 2022, the platinum market has remained in a structural deficit, with demand consistently outpacing supply.

This shortfall is expected to persist despite global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. A key demand driver is the automotive sector, where platinum remains essential.

Despite concerns about the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), platinum demand is projected to stay strong. By 2025, automotive platinum consumption is expected to be 6% above the ten-year average, even as the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market share grows by 22% year-over-year.

Platinum also plays a crucial role in green technology and industrial applications, reinforcing its strong fundamentals. However, the market has yet to fully reflect these attributes in its price.

In recent years, platinum prices experienced a sharp decline, dropping to $796.80 per ounce in September 2022—a 33.5% fall from the March 2022 high of $1,197 per ounce. Since then, prices have been on a steady upward trajectory, reaching approximately $965 per ounce as of March 2025.

This 21.2% rebound signals resilience in the platinum market and suggests that strong fundamentals could drive further appreciation. Although prices remain below historic highs, the positive momentum has led some investors to speculate that platinum could eventually reclaim its $1,197 peak in the coming months or years.

The platinum deficit is forecast to reach 848,000 ounces in 2025, a gap so significant that only major market shifts could alter it. Consequently, above-ground platinum stocks are rapidly depleting, pushing investors toward the metal as a safe-haven asset. Its substantial discount to gold further enhances its investment appeal.

Investor confidence is evident in the growing demand for platinum bars, coins, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In 2024, ETF holdings increased by 296,000 ounces, with another 100,000-ounce rise expected in 2025. Potential U.S. tariffs on platinum imports add further uncertainty, potentially disrupting trade flows and creating domestic shortages.

This has led to an increase in platinum deposits into NYMEX-approved storage facilities, with exchange-held stocks expected to rise by 50,000 ounces in 2024 and 150,000 ounces in 2025.

The shift of platinum into exchange inventories, which began in late 2024, reflects investor caution over possible tariffs. While these stocks increase the visibility of platinum holdings, they do not represent new supply but rather a reallocation of existing material.

Another key market factor is the potential change in Russian supply dynamics. With ongoing U.S.-Russia peace talks, the possibility of lifted sanctions could increase Russian platinum availability. However, reports indicate that Russian platinum continues to reach markets despite existing sanctions, meaning any policy shifts may have a limited impact.

Global economic uncertainty has further fueled interest in alternative investments, with many viewing platinum as an undervalued asset. The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) has played a key role in raising awareness of platinum’s investment potential, encouraging more investors to recognize its ability to protect long-term wealth.

In summary, platinum’s structural deficit and declining above-ground stocks suggest that the current imbalance is unsustainable without a price adjustment.

Given the relative inelasticity of both supply and demand, platinum presents a compelling investment opportunity. As market conditions evolve, the metal’s value is likely to strengthen, driven by persistent deficits and shifting geopolitical factors, as reported by the WPIC.