Young miners will use Mine Entra 2026 to pursue technology, investment, and strategic partnerships that support value addition, formalisation, and safer mining as they seek to position themselves as a new generation of competitive mining entrepreneurs, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The Young Miners Foundation (YMF) said its members will use Zimbabwe’s flagship mining exhibition, which runs from July 29 to 31 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo, to engage equipment suppliers, financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders while exploring opportunities to modernise their operations and strengthen their participation across the mining value chain.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe ahead of Mine Entra 2026, YMF Chief Executive Officer Payne Kupfuwa said the exhibition presents a rare opportunity for emerging miners to build partnerships that can help transform youth-led mining enterprises into sustainable and competitive businesses.
“At Mine Entra 2026, Young Miners will fully participate by networking and attending conferences,” said Kupfuwa.
He said the foundation’s participation is driven by a broader ambition to move young miners beyond the traditional role of mineral extraction and towards building modern mining businesses supported by technology, skills development, efficient equipment, and access to capital.
“YMF members will be looking for partnerships that go beyond extracting minerals. We seek technology, training, efficient equipment, and capital that will help us become 21st-century young mineral magnates,” he said.
Kupfuwa said such partnerships are essential if young miners are to move further up the mining value chain through beneficiation and value addition, ensuring Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth creates lasting economic opportunities long after the resources have been extracted.
“Our future is not only underground; it is in innovation and in the value addition and beneficiation of our minerals. This value will stay in our communities long after the mines close,” he said.
The foundation’s aspirations come as Zimbabwe continues to prioritise mineral beneficiation and the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining as part of efforts to maximise value from its mineral resources. However, limited access to affordable finance, modern mining equipment, and technical expertise continues to constrain many emerging miners, making platforms such as Mine Entra increasingly important for building commercial partnerships.
Against this backdrop, Kupfuwa said formalisation remains central to the foundation’s agenda, not only to improve operational standards but also to strengthen the confidence of investors and financial institutions.
“As we continue to formalise and professionalise our mining operations, we look forward to securing meaningful investment and soft lending opportunities from financial institutions,” he said.
Beyond attracting capital, the foundation intends to use the exhibition to exchange knowledge on safer mining practices, environmental stewardship, and responsible mining methods that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
“We look forward to sharing and exchanging notes on safe mining methods, health, and environmental sensitivity as we conform to ESG principles,” Kupfuwa said.
He said Mine Entra would also provide an opportunity for young miners to engage directly with policymakers and industry leaders on regulatory developments affecting the sector while identifying practical strategies to improve productivity, safety, and long-term sustainability.
“Young Miners will be navigating strategies and ideas to mine safer, smarter, and more sustainably. We seek value beyond the ore,” he said.
Kupfuwa said the foundation also hopes to contribute to policy discussions shaping Zimbabwe’s mining industry, ensuring the perspectives of young miners are reflected as the sector evolves.
“We seek insights into the latest policy changes and aim to contribute to policy development as we interact with policymakers and key players in the mining industry,” he said.
For the Young Miners Foundation, success at Mine Entra will not be measured by attendance alone but by the partnerships, investment opportunities, and knowledge gained to help build a new generation of formally structured, investment-ready mining businesses.
“Mine Entra must be more than an exhibition; it must be a launchpad for the next generation of miners,” Kupfuwa said.
