Antony Chawagarira
BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe’s premier mining, engineering and transport exhibition, Mine Entra 2026, will be held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) from July 29 to 31, with organisers expecting the event to strengthen investment, innovation and local participation across the country’s mining value chain.
Running under the theme, “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains,” the exhibition will bring together mining companies, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, transport operators, technology providers, investors and policymakers to explore opportunities within the sector.
This year’s edition is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors, including international participants, and over 10 000 business visitors from across the region.
Organised by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, Mine Entra has evolved from a traditional mining exhibition into a strategic business platform connecting investors, mining companies, manufacturers, equipment suppliers, policymakers and service providers.
The exhibition comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s mining industry is placing greater emphasis on value addition, operational efficiency and stronger linkages with local businesses that provide goods and services to mining companies.
Growing demand for reliable suppliers, engineering expertise and innovative technologies has created opportunities for companies involved in mining equipment, automation, mineral processing, transport, engineering and specialised technical services.
The exhibition is expected to provide exhibitors with a platform to showcase their capabilities, engage directly with industry players and establish partnerships that support growth across the mining value chain.
Key highlights on the expo programme include the Suppliers, Energy and Infrastructure Symposium on Tuesday, the Mine Entra Buyers Programme, which runs from Wednesday to Friday, the Beneficiation and Value Addition Symposium, and the Exploration Seminar, both scheduled for Wednesday.
Wednesday’s programme will conclude with the Exhibitors’ Welcome Cocktail, which officially launches the Mine Entra networking programme.
On Thursday, the spotlight will shift to the Mine Entra Conference, which will bring together industry leaders, investors, financiers and mining professionals to deliberate on key trends, emerging opportunities and innovative solutions shaping the future of the mining industry.
ZITF Company Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Thandolwenkosi Nkomo said Mine Entra continues to serve as an important platform for investment, innovation and business partnerships within Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
“This year’s Mine Entra will bring together key stakeholders from across the mining value chain to explore investment opportunities, strengthen local participation and promote innovation that supports sustainable growth in the sector,” he said.
Nkomo said the exhibition facilitates engagement between industry players, investors and policymakers while showcasing technologies shaping the future of mining.
He said organisers were also placing greater emphasis on ensuring local manufacturers, engineering companies, transport operators and small-to-medium enterprises benefit from opportunities created by the expanding mining industry.
The increased participation of local businesses reflects a broader shift towards greater reliance on domestic suppliers for equipment, maintenance, logistics and other specialised technical services required by mining companies.
Key stakeholders have expressed readiness for the event, with Young Miners Foundation chief executive officer Payne Kupfuwa saying youth miners will fully participate in the exhibition, networking sessions and conferences.
“YMF members will be looking for partnerships that go beyond extracting minerals. We seek technology, training, efficient equipment and capital that will help us build 21st century young mineral magnates. Our future is not only underground, it is in innovation and in value addition and beneficiation of our minerals. This value will stay in our communities long after the mines close,” he said.
Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-Scale Women Miners Association chairperson Kundai Chikonzo Midzi said the association would conduct a site visit to one of the women miners on the sidelines of Mine Entra.
“We also have our conference for Women in Mining on Thursday (30 July). This is one of the events we will be doing as we continue to champion a bold women miners’ empowerment vision,” she said.
Midzi said women miners play a critical role in the sector, accounting for an estimated 10 to 15 percent of Zimbabwe’s national mining workforce while representing about 50 percent of artisanal and small-scale miners.
Beyond the exhibition floor, Mine Entra has become an important networking platform where businesses build strategic relationships, identify new commercial opportunities and engage with key decision-makers in the mining industry.
Exhibitors are expected to demonstrate products and services designed to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability while contributing to the continued growth of Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
Mining remains one of the country’s key economic pillars, with Mine Entra 2026 expected to highlight the growing role of industries and technologies supporting the sector beyond mineral extraction.
The expo will run until Friday at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES).
