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Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) is moving to turn waste generated from its steelmaking operations into cement, adding a new layer to the Manhize industrial complex as the company seeks to build a circular manufacturing system around its steel plant, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

DISCO Chief Operations Officer Wilfred Motsi said the company was close to starting cement production using material generated as a by-product of steelmaking.

“We are now turning our waste into cement,” Motsi said, indicating that production was expected to begin within weeks.

The development forms part of DISCO’s wider strategy to use by-products from one industrial process as inputs for another, reducing waste while creating additional products and revenue streams.

The cement project is expected to use blast-furnace slag generated during iron and steel production. Earlier industry reporting put the planned cement plant’s capacity at about 400,000 tonnes a year, with production expected during October 2026.

For an integrated steel operation, the development is significant because blast-furnace slag is produced in substantial quantities during ironmaking.

Instead of treating the material solely as waste requiring disposal, DISCO intends to use it as an industrial input.

Motsi described the approach as part of a broader circular-economy model being developed at Manhize.

The cement plant also expands the industrial footprint of the project beyond steel.

DISCO is already producing pig iron, billets, reinforcement bars and wire rods, while the company has outlined additional manufacturing facilities targeting mining and other industries.

The result is a developing chain in which iron ore and other raw materials enter the complex, steel is produced and rolled into finished products, and by-products from the process are redirected into other manufacturing operations.

That approach could increase the amount of value extracted from every tonne of raw material entering the industrial complex.

It also creates additional demand for logistics.

The NRZ and Grand Railway Solutions agreement signed at Manhize on Monday is designed to provide rail capacity for the movement of bulk materials into the complex and finished products out of it.

The agreement includes a planned approximately 54-kilometre railway connection between Manhize and Mvuma, rehabilitation of the Mvuma-Gweru section and the deployment of locomotives and wagons.

GRS has put the initial budget for the new Manhize-Mvuma line at approximately US$125 million. The railway’s initial cargo focus includes coal and coke from Hwange to Manhize and steel products moving towards domestic and export markets.

Motsi has previously identified limestone among the bulk commodities that could be moved by rail as the Manhize industrial ecosystem expands.

That could become increasingly relevant as cement production grows.

The developing logistics chain therefore has the potential to connect several industries rather than simply serving the steel plant: coal from Hwange, iron ore and other minerals into Manhize, limestone for cement production, steel products to customers, and cement and other finished products to domestic and regional markets.

This is particularly important because the cost of transporting bulk materials can influence the competitiveness of heavy industry.

Motsi said DISCO had historically depended heavily on road transport to move raw materials and finished products, making the rail project important as production volumes increase.

The circular-economy initiative is also being developed alongside DISCO’s plans to expand its overall industrial footprint.

The company has an 800-hectare Special Economic Zone at Manhize, with more than 300 companies reported to have expressed interest in opportunities around the industrial complex.

That creates the possibility of multiple manufacturing activities sharing raw materials, energy, transport infrastructure and industrial by-products.

For Zimbabwe’s mining and manufacturing sectors, the model could be significant if it develops beyond DISCO’s own operations.

Steelmaking waste being converted into cement is one example of how a large mineral-processing investment can generate secondary industries, while steel products such as mill balls and other mining inputs create another link between mineral beneficiation and downstream manufacturing.

Motsi said DISCO’s broader objective was to move away from an economy centred on exporting minerals towards one based on processing, manufacturing and finished products.

The success of that model will depend on whether the new facilities operate at commercial scale and whether the supporting infrastructure, particularly reliable power and rail freight, develops at the same pace.

At Manhize, steel production is therefore increasingly becoming the centre of a wider industrial system in which mining, energy, manufacturing, cement and logistics are being developed around one another.

The planned use of steelmaking by-products for cement adds another component to that system, turning what would otherwise be a waste stream into another industrial product.

RioZim produced 213kg of gold in the first half of 2026 and swung to a ZiG1.30 billion (about US$48.6 million) net profit, marking a sharp recovery from last year’s production disruptions as the miner brought its key operations back online, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The profit compares with a ZiG300.65 million loss in the same period last year, while revenue increased more than tenfold to ZiG299.90 million from ZiG21.64 million, supported by higher gold production and an average realised gold price of US$4,689 an ounce.

The turnaround was driven by the restart of Renco and the resumption of production at Cam & Motor, although the bottom line was also significantly boosted by accounting gains and balance-sheet restructuring.

Renco produced 92kg of gold in the first quarter after restarting operations under Chinese contractor FeiFan Mining, while Cam & Motor resumed production in June following the completion of pit dewatering.

RioZim said it was also advancing open-pit trials and heap-leaching projects at Renco to support near-term production, while a second mill at Cam & Motor is being installed and is expected to be commissioned before year-end.

Operating profit rose to ZiG1.05 billion from a ZiG351.37 million loss a year earlier. However, the reported net profit included a ZiG935.85 million write-off of an associate loan and a ZiG303.70 million gain from the disposal of RioZim’s 22.2% stake in RZM Murowa.

The Murowa disposal generated ZiG600.51 million in proceeds and was part of RioZim’s strategy to reduce borrowings. Total liabilities fell to ZiG3 billion at June 30 from ZiG4.26 billion at the end of 2025, while the group’s equity deficit narrowed to ZiG258.43 million from ZiG1.56 billion.

Despite the improved financial position, RioZim remains under pressure to fund its operations. Current liabilities exceeded current assets by ZiG1.23 billion, with auditors continuing to flag a material uncertainty over the group’s ability to remain a going concern.

The balance-sheet pressures add significance to RioZim’s plan to sell Renco for US$35 million, which would provide an immediate source of cash for debt reduction and working capital.

The proposed disposal, however, would come as Renco is returning to production and RioZim is developing additional open-pit and heap-leach capacity at the mine. A completed sale would therefore improve liquidity but remove a producing gold asset from the group just as its operations are recovering.

That would leave Cam & Motor, where the second mill is due to come on stream before year-end, carrying a greater share of RioZim’s future production base.

The first-half results show that RioZim can restore production when capital and operational support are available. The proposed Renco disposal will determine whether the company uses the recovery to rebuild around a smaller, less leveraged asset base or retains one of its key sources of gold output.

Mutapa Platinum Group has secured a US$100 million financing facility to restart development of the Darwendale platinum project, with funds already being disbursed and civil works under way at the processing plant, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The funding moves one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped PGM projects into construction after years of delays over financing and a change in development strategy.

Darwendale has an estimated resource of about 44 million ounces of PGMs, while Mutapa has put the wider development cost at about US$500 million and previously targeted initial throughput of at least 2 million tonnes a year.

Munashe Shava, chief executive of Mutapa Platinum Group, said financial closure had been completed and the company was now executing the first phase of its revised development plan.

“A hundred million facility has already been signed. Disbursement has already begun. As we speak, we are on the ground doing the civils for the plant. We started in earnest around the middle of September, so we are now on the ground and the project is moving,” Shava said.

“The first stage is essentially the plant, supported by the open-pit operation, the bulk infrastructure, the tailings storage facility and the water reticulation. The front end of the plant is designed for 1.2 million tonnes, but the initial flotation section will take 600,000 tonnes. After that first phase, we add another flotation circuit to take the plant up to 1.2 million tonnes,” he said.

Construction is expected to take about 12 months, with Mutapa targeting full production around this time next year.

The plant will initially process 600,000 tonnes a year through its flotation circuit, while the front-end infrastructure will have capacity for 1.2 million tonnes. That configuration allows Mutapa to expand processing capacity by adding a second flotation circuit rather than rebuilding the front end.

The longer-term target is to take Darwendale to about 5 million tonnes a year within five years, Shava said.

That expansion will require a shift from open-pit to underground mining, including the development of two underground mines and further exploration, particularly south of the existing resource.

“1.2 is just scratching the surface and our strategy is to ensure that we reach our optimum operating level within the five-year strategic window that we have put ourselves,” he said.

Darwendale was originally conceived as a large underground project but was derailed by financing constraints and the withdrawal of Russian partner Vi Holdings from Great Dyke Investments, the joint venture that previously controlled the asset.

Kuvimba Mining House, which later controlled the project, shifted to a smaller open-pit development model in 2025, seeking to reduce upfront capital requirements and bring production forward. Mining Zimbabwe reported at the time that the initial open-pit phase was expected to cost about US$50 million.

GDI had invested close to US$100 million in the project by 2023, according to the company at the time, before the Russian partner’s exit forced a rethink of the project’s financing and development structure.

Earlier this year, Mutapa reorganised its mining assets into separate commodity-focused entities, allowing Mutapa Platinum to pursue funding and partnerships directly for Darwendale. Shava said at the time that the company was advancing discussions with funding partners and preparing to resume ground development.

The project, about 65 kilometres west of Harare on Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke, is now moving from financing and planning into physical construction.

The immediate focus is on delivering the first 600,000-tonne flotation phase, while the larger plant and underground expansion provide the pathway towards the 5-million-tonne annual target.

Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) is positioning its 800-hectare Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Manhize as a platform for downstream manufacturing, with the company saying the industrial park could accommodate more than 300 businesses as Zimbabwe seeks to extract greater value from its steel production, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

DISCO Chief Operations Officer Wilfred Motsi said the development of the SEZ was part of a broader strategy to move Manhize beyond steel production into manufacturing, beneficiation and the creation of industries that use locally produced steel and other raw materials.

“The story of Zimbabwe must not remain that we have more than 50 minerals. The story must be about what factories we have, what products we are producing and how many jobs we are creating,” Motsi said.

The SEZ is expected to create opportunities for manufacturers involved in steel fabrication, roofing products, pipes, nails and other downstream industries.

Government has previously said more than 300 companies have expressed interest in opportunities around the 800-hectare industrial zone, including businesses seeking to manufacture products from steelmaking by-products such as slag and ash.

For DISCO, the development of these downstream industries would increase domestic demand for steel while reducing the need to export raw or semi-processed mineral value.

Motsi said DISCO was already producing about 600,000 tonnes of carbon steel and expected production to approach two million tonnes in the coming years.

The company’s product range includes pig iron, billets, reinforcement bars and wire rods, while plans are also underway for additional manufacturing facilities, including steel products for the mining industry and other downstream applications.

The development of mining-related manufacturing is particularly significant for Zimbabwe’s mineral sector, where several products used by mines have historically been imported.

Motsi said DISCO was also developing production capacity for mill balls and other products used in mining, creating the possibility of a deeper link between Zimbabwe’s steel and mining industries.

The SEZ therefore forms part of a wider industrial chain stretching from mineral extraction to processing, steelmaking, fabrication and final products.

That chain is also increasing the importance of transport infrastructure.

NRZ and Grand Railway Solutions (GRS), a Dinson Group subsidiary, signed an agreement on Monday for the development of a new railway connection between Manhize and Mvuma, rehabilitation of the Mvuma-Gweru section and deployment of locomotives and wagons to transport bulk cargo. The initial budget for the approximately 54-kilometre Manhize-Mvuma link is estimated at about US$125 million.

The railway agreement is expected to support the movement of coal and coke from Hwange to Manhize, while finished steel can be moved from the plant to domestic and export markets.

For a growing industrial zone, the rail link could also provide a logistics platform for companies operating within the SEZ, particularly manufacturers dealing with large volumes of raw materials and finished products.

Motsi said DISCO was sourcing about 90 percent of its raw materials locally, meaning expansion of production would have implications beyond the steel plant itself.

The company has also been developing its own power generation capacity, with Motsi saying DISCO has a 50MW thermal power station and is recovering waste heat from its blast furnace operations to generate additional electricity.

The wider Manhize development is therefore emerging as an interconnected industrial ecosystem involving steel production, mining, manufacturing, energy, logistics and potentially hundreds of downstream companies.

Earlier industry engagements have identified the SEZ as a major opportunity for local manufacturers to establish operations around DISCO rather than simply supplying the company from outside the region.

The challenge now will be converting investor interest into operating factories, local supply contracts and measurable industrial output.

For Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda, the significance of the Manhize SEZ will ultimately depend not only on the number of companies it attracts, but on how much value those companies add locally, how many jobs they create and how strongly they connect mining, manufacturing and export supply chains.

With rail infrastructure now being developed alongside the steel complex, Manhize is increasingly being shaped as more than a steel plant, with logistics potentially providing the link between mines, factories and regional markets.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a four-day integrity training programme for four Mutapa investment entities, with chief executives and Integrity Committee members signing individual pledges to uphold transparency, accountability and ethical conduct, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The programme, running from October 5 to 8 at Siyekhaya Estate in Harare, brings together officials from Mutapa Gold Resources, Mutapa Platinum Group Metals, Mutapa Base Metals and Mutapa Energy Resources as ZACC seeks to strengthen measures for preventing corruption across the strategic entities.

The focus on integrity comes as the commission raises concerns over the risks that can arise in mining and energy operations, where large financial transactions, procurement processes and valuable national assets can create opportunities for corruption.

Speaking at the event, ZACC Executive Secretary Advocate Shepherd Manhivi said the strategic nature of the four entities made strong governance and internal controls essential to protecting national resources.

“The strategic nature of these operations also means that the entities must maintain strong systems and controls to safeguard resources, promote efficiency and ensure that value is derived from Zimbabwe’s mineral and energy assets in accordance with their respective mandates,” Manhivi said.

ZACC identified procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, abuse of office, fraudulent transactions, bribery, favouritism, resource leakages and weaknesses in internal controls among the risks facing mining and energy operations.

Manhivi said the impact of such practices could go beyond individual cases, affecting efficiency, revenue generation and the value Zimbabwe derives from its resources. They could also distort fair competition and weaken public confidence in institutions entrusted with strategic economic assets.

To address these risks, ZACC is strengthening Integrity Committees within the four entities. The committees are expected to help identify vulnerabilities, improve internal controls, promote ethical conduct and coordinate measures to reduce corruption risks before they develop into cases of misconduct.

The committees will work alongside existing management, internal audit, human resources and disciplinary structures rather than replacing them. The training is intended to give members the knowledge and tools needed to carry out that role effectively.

The programme also placed considerable emphasis on personal responsibility, with the chief executives and Integrity Committee members signing individual integrity pledges.

Manhivi said strong systems would have little effect if the people operating within them were not committed to ethical conduct.

“Integrity begins with individuals. Policies, procedures and systems alone cannot prevent corruption unless they are supported by ethical leadership and responsible conduct by those entrusted with organisational responsibilities,” Manhivi said.

Through the pledges, the officials committed themselves to acting honestly, avoiding conflicts of interest, refusing bribery, protecting organisational resources and upholding accountability and transparency.

ZACC said it would continue working with the four entities through corruption-risk assessments, capacity building, Integrity Committee training and compliance support.

But Manhivi stressed that the real test of the initiative would not be the ceremony itself, but what happens once officials return to their normal duties.

“The true value of this training programme and pledge signing will not be measured by the signatures appended to the pledges, but by the decisions made after this event, the ethical standards upheld in daily operations and the commitment demonstrated in protecting the respective entities against corruption,” Manhivi said.

The initiative comes against the wider role of the Mutapa Investment Fund in managing and optimising strategic state investments and assets for long-term economic benefit.

The fund’s mining interests include Mutapa Gold Resources, Mutapa Platinum Group Metals and Mutapa Base Metals, covering some of Zimbabwe’s key mineral sectors and placing governance at the heart of efforts to generate greater value from the country’s resources.

For the mining sector, the issue is particularly important given its contribution to Zimbabwe’s export earnings and foreign-currency inflows. Stronger controls within state-linked mining entities could therefore have implications not only for accountability, but also for how effectively mineral wealth is converted into economic value.

Manhivi urged the leadership, Integrity Committees and employees of the four entities to make the commitments part of their day-to-day conduct, calling on them to “refuse, resist and report corruption.”

The Zimbabwe Prospectors Association (ZPA) has won the Best Mining Sector Stand award at the 2026 Manicaland Agricultural Show, following its joint exhibition with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s Manicaland Provincial Mining Office, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The award was presented by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon. Misheck Mugadza, recognising the mining exhibition during the provincial agricultural show.

The ZPA was represented at the exhibition by its Secretary, Antonio Antonio, and Treasurer, Trevor Nyamayaro, who participated alongside officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s Manicaland Provincial Mining Office, led by Provincial Mining Director Eng. Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa.

The 2026 Manicaland Agricultural Show was held under the theme, “Innovate, Unlock & Sustain Economic Growth,” bringing together exhibitors from different sectors to showcase products, services and opportunities linked to the province’s economic development.

For the mining sector, the exhibition provided an opportunity to highlight the role of prospecting in identifying mineral deposits and establishing the foundation for future mining projects.

Under Zimbabwe’s Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05], approved prospectors are legally recognised to undertake prospecting and pegging activities in accordance with the country’s mining laws.

Their responsibilities include searching for minerals, pegging mining ground, representing holders of prospecting rights and ensuring that prospecting activities comply with prescribed legal procedures.

Approved prospectors also play an important role in correctly identifying mining boundaries and following the required procedures when ground is pegged, helping to reduce the potential for disputes arising from overlapping claims or incorrectly identified mining areas.

The joint exhibition by the ZPA and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development therefore provided an opportunity to explain the relationship between professional prospecting, mining administration and the development of mineral resources.

The presence of the provincial mining office also brought the Government’s regulatory and administrative role closer to members of the public, businesses and other stakeholders attending the agricultural show.

Manicaland has a significant mineral resource base, making mineral exploration an important part of the province’s mining development prospects.

For prospectors, exhibitions such as the Manicaland Agricultural Show provide a platform to raise awareness of the legal and technical processes involved in mineral exploration while demonstrating the role of prospecting in the wider mining value chain.

The Best Mining Sector Stand award gives further recognition to the prospecting profession and its contribution to the identification and development of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.

Zimbabwe needs a more structured approach to safety and regulatory compliance where large-scale mining (LSM) operations interact with artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM), Prof. Alfred Chinyere, General Manager at Mutapa Gold Resources’ Bindura operation, popularly known as Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, has said.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Chinyere made the remarks during the second session of the Association of Mine Managers Zimbabwe (AMMZ) and Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) Mine Managers’ Bench webinar series held on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

The session, which focused on “Regulatory Compliance & Statutory Responsibility of Mine Managers,” brought together mine managers, government officials, SHEQ professionals and mining engineers.

Chinyere’s presentation, titled “Managing Safety Compliance in LSM-ASM Collaborations,” focused on the regulatory and operational challenges arising where formal large-scale mining operations interact with ASM activity.

He argued that conventional mine safety systems are generally designed around controlled operations within established mining areas, while interactions with ASM can introduce additional and changing risks requiring a broader management approach.

Chinyere called for safety requirements to be incorporated into operational planning, risk management and inspection systems, with clear accountability extending through mining management structures.

He said management systems should provide defined responsibilities and repeatable controls rather than relying primarily on individual initiative.

A major part of his presentation centred on moving away from approaches that treat LSM and ASM as completely separate activities and towards structured forms of cooperation.

Under the approach outlined by Chinyere, large-scale mining companies could contribute capital, technical expertise, equipment and processing infrastructure, while ASM operators continue participating in ore extraction within a regulated framework.

He stressed that such arrangements should not seek to turn ASM operators into miniature large-scale mining companies, but should instead address gaps in technical capacity, safety and processing while maintaining their commercial participation.

Chinyere cited the Magaya Model as one example, involving centralised processing supported by a large-scale mining partner, with ASM operators extracting ore while benefiting from equipment, training and access to controlled processing facilities.

He also discussed an approach associated with Mutapa Gold Resources, which he presented as a registration and structuring model intended to bring existing ASM activity into a more formal framework while creating a controlled platform for participation.

Chinyere also called for greater consideration of the different capacities of mining operators when applying regulatory requirements.

He proposed a move towards what he described as “proportionate compliance”, while emphasising that this should not mean lowering safety or environmental standards.

The approach would instead provide ASM operators with a progressive pathway towards meeting regulatory, safety and environmental requirements.

Chinyere further identified capacity building as a key component of formalisation, pointing to training in areas including mine planning, financial management and legal compliance.

On regulation, he called for a review of Statutory Instrument 109 of 1990, arguing during the presentation that some existing safety requirements can be difficult for smaller operators to implement because of differences in technical and financial capacity.

He stressed that regulatory reform should strengthen, rather than weaken, safety and environmental protection.

Chinyere also proposed the establishment of an LSM-ASM Safety and Environmental Collaboration Platform, potentially coordinated through the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, which could provide a mechanism for developing minimum safety benchmarks and sharing information on incidents and risks.

The discussion formed part of the broader Mine Managers’ Bench programme, which provides a platform for mining professionals to examine regulatory compliance, operational management and statutory responsibilities within Zimbabwe’s mining industry.

Other contributors to the session included Eng. Michael J. Munodawafa from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Gift T. Mapakame, President of AMMZ, Dr Posani Maveza of Impact Plus and Eng. Elton Gwatidzo of AMMZ.

The Zimbabwe mining industry has established a significant presence in the inaugural ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, with four mining-linked clubs remaining as the competition enters the quarter-final stage, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Blanket Mine FC, FC Platinum, Scottland FC and Hardrock FC are all through to the last eight, giving the mining sector a prominent footprint in a tournament that has already produced several major upsets.

The standout mining encounter will be played on Sunday when Blanket Mine FC host FC Platinum at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda, bringing together football clubs associated with Zimbabwe’s gold and platinum mining sectors.

Blanket Mine FC, linked to Caledonia Mining Corporation’s gold operation in Matabeleland South, have emerged as the surprise package of the competition.

The Central Region Soccer League side eliminated Premier Soccer League outfit Triangle United on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Gibbo Stadium, becoming the only lower-league club remaining in the tournament.

Their cup run has come alongside a strong league campaign, with Blanket Mine FC currently sitting at the top of the Central Region standings, five points clear of second-placed Kwekwe United.

FC Platinum, meanwhile, carry Premier Soccer League pedigree into the encounter.

The Zvishavane-based side secured their quarter-final place with a 1-0 victory over Blackrock, setting up a contest between a gold-mining-linked club from Matabeleland South and a football institution rooted in one of Zimbabwe’s major platinum-mining centres.

The mining presence in the quarter-finals, however, extends beyond the Sunday afternoon clash in Gwanda.

Scottland FC, owned by gold-sector businessman Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, face Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro Stadium after a commanding 6-0 victory over MWOS Under-19 in the previous round. Sakupwanya is a prominent player in Zimbabwe’s gold industry and has been profiled by Mining Zimbabwe in connection with his gold-sector business activities.

Hardrock FC provide another direct link between football and gold mining.

The Kwekwe-based club is backed by Gold Metals Investment, a gold mining company owned by businessman Shepherd Chahwanda. The club also plays at Chahwanda Stadium, a privately developed facility associated with Chahwanda.

Hardrock reached the quarter-finals after defeating Jordan 4-1 and will now face Herentals FC at Chahwanda Stadium.

The four clubs therefore represent different expressions of mining’s growing footprint in Zimbabwean football — from established mining operations such as Blanket Mine and the platinum industry’s association with FC Platinum to mining entrepreneurs backing clubs such as Scottland and Hardrock.

The other quarter-final will see FC Hunters host CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday, with CAPS United advancing after a 2-0 victory over Manica Diamonds.

The competition has already seen some of Zimbabwe’s traditional football heavyweights fall by the wayside. Highlanders were eliminated by Blackrock on penalties, while Dynamos were knocked out by Hwange.

The semi-final draw has placed the winner of Blanket Mine FC and FC Platinum against either FC Hunters or CAPS United.

The winner between Hardrock FC and Herentals FC will face the victor of Scottland FC and Bulawayo Chiefs in the other semi-final.

The semi-finals are scheduled for December 5 and 6, with the final set for December 22.

For the mining sector, the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup has consequently become more than a football competition. With four mining-linked clubs still standing, the tournament is providing another platform for Zimbabwe’s gold and platinum interests to leave their mark on the national sporting landscape.

The immediate spotlight, however, falls on Phelandaba Stadium on Sunday, where Blanket Mine FC and FC Platinum will battle for a place in the semi-finals — giving Zimbabwe’s mining communities a football rivalry of their own.