By Dickson Bandera
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — All eyes turn to Cape Town next week as Africa’s most influential mining investment platform, Mining Indaba 2026, opens its doors, bringing together global investors, policymakers, mining executives and development financiers — with Zimbabwe firmly in the mix.
The annual Indaba, widely regarded as the continent’s foremost mining deal-making and policy-shaping forum, comes at a critical moment for Africa’s mineral economies, as the world accelerates demand for critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.
This year’s Indaba, running from the 9th to the 12th of February is expected to place sharp focus on investment certainty, sustainable mining, beneficiation, and Africa’s role in supplying lithium, platinum, nickel, graphite and rare earths — resources in which Zimbabwe holds significant competitive advantage.
Zimbabwe Steps Onto the Global Mining Stage
Zimbabwe’s participation signals renewed momentum in positioning the country as a serious and stable mining destination, backed by policy reforms, infrastructure development and growing investor confidence. The new minister, Hon Eng Polite Kambamura will lead the Zimbabwe delegation. With vast reserves of platinum group metals, gold, lithium and chrome, Zimbabwe is expected to leverage the Indaba to court capital, strengthen partnerships and showcase opportunities across its mining value chain.
Officials and industry players are expected to engage in high-level discussions around value addition, local beneficiation and downstream processing, aligning with Zimbabwe’s long-standing policy thrust of moving beyond raw mineral exports.
Key Highlights of Mining Indaba 2026
This year’s Indaba is shaped around a forward-looking agenda that places Africa at the centre of the global minerals future. Key highlights include:
Critical Minerals and the Energy Transition
With electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery storage driving unprecedented mineral demand, Africa’s role as a supplier of strategic minerals dominates discussions.
Investment-Friendly Mining Policies
Governments are using the platform to outline regulatory reforms aimed at unlocking capital while balancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
Infrastructure and Power Solutions
Energy security for mining operations, including renewables and regional power integration, features prominently.
Beneficiation and Industrialisation
A strong push for in-country processing to ensure mining contributes meaningfully to job creation, technology transfer and economic growth.
Junior Miners and New Projects
Exploration and project financing for emerging miners remains a major draw for investors scouting Africa’s next big discoveries.
Africa’s Mining Moment
Mining Indaba 2026 unfolds against a backdrop of renewed global competition for Africa’s mineral wealth, as traditional and emerging economies seek secure supply chains. Analysts say the forum provides African countries, including Zimbabwe, with a rare opportunity to shape the narrative, assert sovereignty over resources, and negotiate partnerships that drive long-term development.
As deal-making intensifies and policy statements take centre stage, Zimbabwe’s presence at Mining Indaba underscores its ambition to be counted among Africa’s leading, modern and competitive mining jurisdictions.
With Cape Town once again serving as the crossroads of global mining capital, the Indaba promises to be a defining moment — not just for investors, but for African nations charting the future of their mineral economies.
