Over 40 companies that supply goods and services to the mining sector have expressed satisfaction with the Zimbabwe Miners Federation’s (ZMF)’s stakeholder engagement efforts, saying the platform is opening up real business opportunities with the often-overlooked small-scale mining sector.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The companies attended a breakfast meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) at its head office on Thursday, and the message from service providers was clear: ZMF is creating real opportunities for business growth across the mining supply chain.
The event was part of ZMF’s stakeholder engagement drive and also gave suppliers insight into the organisation’s calendar of activities, including the rescheduled National Suppliers Conference, now set for October 30, 2025. The meeting was described by several attendees as productive and filled with potential partnerships.
Rutendo Chabururuka from Principle Truck Sales said the engagement was productive and created important links within the mining value chain.
“As an equipment supplier, I’ve seen there’s a lot of potential in what our miners are already doing. We’ve opened doors for a lot of networking, and we’re looking forward to collaborating with more stakeholders in the sector,” he said.
“ZMF is well-positioned, especially with the international event they’re planning. It shows Zimbabwe is on the global map when it comes to mining.”
Karol Ziwonye from Expo Mix based in Graniteside said the meeting gave her business the exposure it has long been seeking.
“We’ve been supplying big mines, but we never had the chance to introduce our products to Makorokoza. This year looks good. We now have the opportunity to connect with small and medium miners, thanks to ZMF,” she said.
She added that knowing the ZMF calendar will help them plan better and take advantage of key events to market their products and services.
Tawanda Chawira from Performance Laboratories described the engagement as timely.
“The meeting was positive. There are many areas we can collaborate on. It’s definitely in our plan to grow business from small-scale miners. ZMF, as the biggest representative body for them, gives us that access.”
The Federation’s decision to move the Suppliers Conference to October was influenced by feedback from stakeholders who want more time to prepare and align with ZMF’s broader international plans. According to ZMF, the event will bring together service providers, financiers, and development partners under one roof to discuss value chain synergies.
With over 1.5 million artisanal and small-scale miners operating in Zimbabwe, many of whom lack access to formal suppliers and support services, ZMF’s approach is bridging the gap between miners and the services they desperately need.
As one of the few organised platforms linking miners to industry partners, ZMF’s supplier engagements are proving to be a win-win for both miners and businesses looking to grow their footprint in the mining sector.
