Perth, Western Australia — Zimbabwe’s mining cadastre and portfolio of investment-ready projects have drawn interest from investors at the Africa Down Under conference in Perth, with gold, copper, exploration and mining finance emerging among the key areas of discussion, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Kelvin Sungiso
Investor enquiries at Zimbabwe’s exhibition stand on the opening day focused heavily on the security of mining titles, transparency in the application process and the ability to verify mining tenure remotely.
The discussions put Zimbabwe’s efforts to modernise the administration of mining rights at the centre of its investment pitch, while also highlighting the projects the country is seeking to bring to investors.
Investors also sought information on the status of projects available for investment, the terms of entry and opportunities for partnerships across the mining value chain.
The response comes as Zimbabwe seeks to attract more international capital into exploration and mine development, particularly in a sector where access to large-scale financing remains critical to unlocking new mineral resources.
Zimbabwe’s delegation is being led by Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon. Dr. Eng. C. Makwiranzou and includes representatives from Government institutions, mining companies, industry bodies and investment agencies.
The delegation was welcomed in Perth by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ambassador J. T. Mhishi, who subsequently briefed officials on sentiment among Australian investors and issues likely to arise during engagements at the conference.
Gold, copper and exploration
Investor discussions during the day extended beyond mining rights to opportunities in gold and copper, exploration, joint ventures and large-scale mining projects.
The size and configuration of mining tenements emerged as an important consideration, with potential investors raising concerns over fragmented claims and the difficulty of structuring commercially viable projects where mining rights are divided across smaller holdings.
Discussions also touched on the terms required between prospective joint-venture partners, highlighting the importance of commercially realistic arrangements for projects seeking international capital.
Exploration financing was another area of interest, alongside potential listings on the Australian Securities Exchange, artificial intelligence applications in mineral exploration, mining equipment and services, and opportunities for local participation.
For Zimbabwe, the interest offers an opportunity to connect its mineral resources with Australia’s established mining, exploration and financing ecosystem.
ADU is the largest African-focused mining event held outside Africa and brings together mining companies, explorers, investors, financiers, government representatives and service providers.
From enquiries to investment
The immediate challenge for Zimbabwe will be converting discussions at the conference into transactions.
The delegation is pursuing follow-up engagements in Zimbabwe with prospective investors, with discussions expected to focus on individual projects, financing requirements and potential partnerships.
The Government is also using the conference to promote upcoming investment events aimed at giving investors more detailed access to project promoters and policymakers.
These include the Perth Business and Investment Forum, themed “From Opportunities to Investment Partnerships”, scheduled for 3 September 2026, as well as the Zimbabwe Mining and Energy Investment Forum, which is scheduled for September 4 on the sidelines of ADU.
The latter is being positioned as a platform to connect investors and financiers with Zimbabwean policymakers, industry leaders and project promoters across the mining and energy value chains.
The events are expected to provide an opportunity for Zimbabwe to move beyond general discussions about mineral potential and present specific projects to investors considering exploration, mine development, processing and related infrastructure.
For the mining sector, the investor questions raised at ADU also provide a clearer indication of the issues that need to be addressed if Zimbabwe is to attract greater volumes of international exploration and development capital.
With the conference continuing through September 4, the focus will now shift from initial enquiries to detailed discussions around projects, mining rights, financing and potential investment partnerships.
