Published: 25 June 2025

Mashonaland West province has received a significant boost to its rural industrialisation efforts with the announcement that Bravura Holdings Zimbabwe, a new platinum mining player, will establish operations in Zvimba and Chegutu districts.

Speaking at a media briefing after presenting the company's project scope to provincial stakeholders, Bravura Holdings Zimbabwe Managing Director, Mr. Ojoologuson Bhenga, confirmed that feasibility studies for the project have been completed and that the company is advancing towards the development phase.

"We are a mining conglomerate with a pan-African footprint across about fourteen African countries. We are committed to ensuring a viable project for years to come. We have already heavily invested in this project, completing our feasibility study and exploration work," Bhenga stated.

While the briefing did not disclose specifics such as project costs, timelines, or employment numbers, Bhenga emphasized the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility. "We have made it clear that we operate as Africans, fully aware of the continent's needs. In all our operations, including here, we invest significantly in the well-being of local communities. Currently, 95% of our staff are local Zimbabweans, demonstrating our dedication to uplifting the people where we operate," he added.

Honourable Marian Chombo, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, pledged full government support under the country's open-for-business policy. She highlighted the province's rich mining and agricultural heritage and underscored the importance of the Bravura project in job creation and revenue generation.

"Mashonaland West is known for its mining and agricultural activities. The Bravura project will create jobs for our children and increase platinum production soon. We anticipate that such projects will generate more revenue, improving service delivery in rural areas. In 2023, the province ranked third with a GDP of ZWL27.8 billion, surpassing all rural provinces except Bulawayo and Harare. The success of projects like Bravura will help us improve production and surpass other provinces. Devolution's main goal is to boost council revenues so rural lives can match urban standards, especially in service delivery," Minister Chombo said.

In addition to its platinum mining plans, Bravura's Kamativi Mine is projected to produce an annual output of 30,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate, a key lithium-bearing mineral. The Zimbabwean government holds a 40% minority stake in the project.

Bravura Holdings is owned by Nigerian billionaire Benedict Peters, known for his extensive investments across the African mining sector.
- zbc