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The country’s second-biggest platinum group metals (PGM) producer, Mimosa Mining Company Exploration and Database Geologist Zvikomborero Calvin Sithole, will take to the global stage, transitioning from the focused world of resource modelling to a keynote address at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
His selection to speak at the world’s premier mining investment forum marks a significant milestone in a career dedicated to translating subsurface data into economic opportunity. At the conference, he will deliver a vital presentation titled “The Hidden Costs of Underinvesting in Mineral Exploration,” a topic that sits at the critical junction of geological science, economic policy, and sustainable development for resource-rich nations across the continent.
Calvin’s professional path, beginning with the prestigious Mimosa Graduate Trainership Programme and evolving into a specialist role managing complex databases and resource estimates, has provided him with a unique lens.
Calvin understands that exploration is not merely a technical prelude to mining, but the fundamental foundation upon which entire national mining ecosystems are built or compromised. His expertise, honed over five years in PGM and base metal exploration, allows him to see the profound ripple effects that investment decisions made today will have on the industry’s tomorrow.
Central to his forthcoming address is the principle of strategic translation. Calvin articulates that the true power of geological data is unlocked only when it is woven into a compelling narrative for investment. He emphasises moving beyond raw numbers and technical jargon to focus on “the story behind the data” and, most importantly, on “translating technical details into dollar value, the universal language of investment.” This process of building a clear, credible bridge from the drill core to the boardroom is what transforms potential into progress, attracting the capital essential for converting mineral wealth into tangible national wealth.
The presentation will delve deeply into the severe and cascading consequences that arise when exploration is starved of necessary funding. Calvin warns that the most apparent cost, a missed discovery, is only the surface layer of a much deeper problem. A more insidious consequence is the silent erosion of national capability. Consistent underinvestment stifles the opportunity to “develop local talent and build expertise,” creating a dangerous cycle of dependency that weakens the domestic industry’s foundation and deprives a nation of the sovereign skill sets needed to steward its own resources.
Furthermore, he will illuminate the strategic jeopardy of compromised project viability. Insufficient investment in thorough, early-stage exploration can lead directly to “premature project closures, resulting in stranded assets and lost revenue for governments and communities.” This outcome represents a double failure: it forfeits immediate economic benefits and poisons the landscape for future investment as uncertainty and perceived risk grow. This cycle strategically undermines the long-term potential for mining to serve as a stable pillar for economic growth and community development.
Looking beyond the immediate challenges, Calvin’s vision for the future is anchored in the empowerment of Africa’s next generation of geoscientists. He positions them as the essential agents for transforming the continent’s unparalleled mineral endowment—nearly 30% of global reserves—into a future of broad-based prosperity. His perspective champions a mining sector driven by innovation, true partnership, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive growth. The theme of Mining Indaba 2026, “Stronger Together: Progress through Partnerships,” perfectly aligns with his conviction that uniting investors, communities, and innovators is the only way to build the “solid foundation for the next generation of African geologists to flourish.” His own presence at the podium is a powerful testament to what that foundation can yield.
Presentation Details at Mining Indaba 2026:
Topic: The Hidden Costs of Underinvesting in Mineral Exploration
Date & Time: Thursday, 12 February 2026, 11:15–12:00
Location: Nubian Pyramids Stage, CTICC, Cape Town
This session is positioned to be a standout moment of strategic clarity at the conference. It moves the conversation on exploration from a line-item cost to a strategic imperative. For mining executives, financiers, and policymakers dedicated to fostering a resilient, ethical, and prosperous African mining industry, Zvikomborero Calvin Sithole’s insights from the front lines of geology and data will provide an indispensable perspective. His journey from Mimosa to Mining Indaba underscores a central message: the sustainable wealth of nations begins with the wisdom to invest in understanding what lies beneath.
