Zimbabwe’s mining industry will use Mine Entra 2026 to strengthen links between mining companies and local suppliers as it seeks to boost domestic procurement and widen the sector’s contribution to the economy, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe said.
By Ryan Chigoche
The focus comes as mining companies continue to rely heavily on imported equipment and specialised services despite growing calls to increase local content participation in a sector that remains the country’s largest export earner.
Speaking ahead of the official opening of the three-day exhibition, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer Dr Isaac Kwesu said Mine Entra 2026 would bring together mining companies, suppliers, energy infrastructure providers and policymakers to help build stronger value chain linkages across the industry.
“The focus is not just a mining industry that grows, but a mining industry that empowers, a mining industry that translates into local empowerment and improves the social status of our country—an inclusive, broad-based mining industry we desire,” Kwesu said.
He said this year’s exhibition would focus on strengthening connections between mining and other sectors of the economy in order to increase the industry’s multiplier effect.
“It is without doubt that this year’s edition of Mine Entra will improve the linkages between our mining industry and those other sectors in an effort to increase the mining multiplier as it enhances the social development agenda of our country,” he said.
The push reflects a long-standing challenge within Zimbabwe’s mining sector. The Chamber of Mines’ State of the Mining Industry Survey showed that mining companies spent approximately US$2.1 billion on suppliers, yet local suppliers accounted for only 15% of that expenditure, underscoring the limited participation of domestic businesses in the industry’s supply chain.
Against that backdrop, industry stakeholders are increasingly seeking ways to ensure that mining growth translates into wider opportunities for local manufacturers, engineering firms, technology providers and service companies.
The emphasis on stronger linkages comes as Zimbabwe pursues beneficiation, value addition and industrialisation policies aimed at retaining more value from its mineral resources.
While mining has attracted significant investment in recent years, industry leaders say the sector’s broader economic impact will depend on the extent to which local businesses participate in procurement, manufacturing and service provision.
For local suppliers, breaking into mining supply chains has often been hampered by limited access to capital, difficulties in meeting technical specifications and industry standards, and challenges in connecting with procurement decision-makers at major mining operations.
At the same time, mining companies continue to seek reliable suppliers capable of providing equipment, consumables, engineering services, technology solutions and other specialised inputs needed to support expanding operations.
To help address these challenges, Mine Entra 2026 will feature a Suppliers Programme designed to facilitate structured engagements between suppliers and procurement representatives from major mining houses.
The programme is also expected to draw participation from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, reflecting growing efforts to align mining expansion with the development of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Kwesu said discussions during the exhibition would also cover energy infrastructure, another critical area for mining growth as producers seek reliable power supplies to support operations and future investment.
Held under the theme, “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains,” Mine Entra 2026 seeks to position mining as a catalyst for broader economic development by strengthening connections across the value chain.
As mining companies, suppliers, investors and policymakers gather in Bulawayo, industry leaders will be looking beyond production growth to how the sector can create wider opportunities across the economy and build a more inclusive mining ecosystem.
