Utete Wushe meets Zimbabwe School of Mines leaders on skills drive

Utete Wushe meets Zimbabwe School of Mines leaders on skills drive

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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, is engaging the leadership of the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) in Bulawayo on Friday as part of his familiarisation programme following his appointment to the post in May.

The discussions come as Government steps up efforts around mining skills development, value addition and beneficiation, as Zimbabwe’s mining sector remains central to national economic activity and export earnings.

Founded in 1926, ZSM has become one of the region’s better known mining training institutions within the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). The school trains professionals in mining engineering, geology, metallurgy, mine surveying and gemstone processing, supplying skills that are in demand locally and beyond.

According to the official programme for the visit, Dr Utete Wushe and ZSM’s leadership are expected to deliberate on governance and strategic direction, including how academic programmes align with the needs of the mining industry. Other agenda items include flagship projects, the institution’s contribution to the sector, and the impact of training initiatives focused on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

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The meeting is also expected to cover sponsorship models, outreach programmes, operational challenges and long-term financial sustainability, with a roundtable discussion planned to generate recommendations on strengthening the institution’s role in the mining value chain.

During the visit, Dr Utete Wushe is scheduled to tour key training facilities, including the mining, geology, metallurgy, surveying and lapidary sections where students receive practical instruction.

The engagement comes after ZSM commissioned US$1,1 million worth of gemstone cutting and polishing equipment last year. The equipment was donated by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) under its corporate social responsibility programme and installed at the school’s Gemstone and Lapidary Workshop.

The gemstone processing investment is intended to help develop advanced lapidary skills and support Zimbabwe’s beneficiation and value addition agenda, particularly in a country with a diverse range of precious and semi-precious stones.

Government has repeatedly identified beneficiation as key to improving returns from mineral resources, while the broader mining sector continues to support thousands of jobs and related industries across Zimbabwe.

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