Zimbabwe's biggest gold restart is already in motion

The hum of high-capacity pumps echoing through the valleys of Penhalonga is more than just the sound of machinery at work — it is the soundtrack to one of Africa's most significant gold mine revival projects currently underway.

At the heart of the ambitious turnaround is Redwing Mine, a once-dormant operation that is rapidly being brought back to life by Namib Minerals, a Nasdaq-listed mining company backed by international investors, including those from the United States, seeking exposure to gold and high-growth African mining assets.

Since late January, rehabilitation efforts at Redwing have gathered pace, with more than 544,000 cubic metres of water pumped from the underground workings, lowering water levels by nearly 22 metres. New power infrastructure is being installed while mining equipment is being mobilised to the site in preparation for the resumption of full-scale operations.

The Redwing restart forms part of one of the largest new gold investment programmes currently underway in Zimbabwe. Namib Minerals is leveraging renewed investor interest in gold producers amid sustained high bullion prices and growing confidence in Africa's resource sector.

The company's profile rose significantly after its 2025 listing on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in New York through what was the largest Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) transaction in African history. The listing opened access to major international capital markets and attracted institutional investors eager to participate in the company's long-term growth strategy.

Beyond Redwing, Namib's Zimbabwean portfolio includes the producing How Mine near Bulawayo and the Mazowe Mine restart project. The company intends to replicate the operational success achieved at How Mine as it advances plans to restore Redwing and Mazowe to full production.

According to Namib Minerals Chief Executive Officer Tulani Sikwila, How Mine has demonstrated the company's ability to operate large-scale mining assets efficiently and profitably.

"How Mine remains a very strong asset, and we are proud that the operation is a symbol of our track record in delivering value, whether to shareholders, government, or communities," said Sikwila.

Sikwila assumed the role of CEO in March, taking charge at a pivotal moment in the company's expansion strategy. A chartered accountant who began his career at Ernst & Young Zimbabwe, he brings more than two decades of experience within the group across finance, operations and executive leadership.

"I'm humbled to be taking up this responsibility at a key moment in the company's history," he said.

"I've been part of this business for two decades, across various leadership positions in finance, operations and leadership. I know these assets. I'm tuned in to the operating environment. I know the communities around our operations."

For Namib, the focus now is on scaling production and unlocking the value of its extensive Zimbabwean asset base.

"We want to build a capital-efficient African mining platform, one that creates real value for investors, employees and the communities we operate in," Sikwila said.

"The success of How Mine as an operation shows our capacity as a business. But the real opportunity is in unlocking the full potential of our asset base. Redwing and Mazowe are brownfield projects with very good resource endowments. Getting them back into full, formalised production is our priority right now."

Brownfield projects such as Redwing and Mazowe hold a distinct advantage in a strong gold market because they already possess significant infrastructure and established underground workings, making them more cost-effective to restart than developing entirely new mines.

Namib plans to invest between US$300 million and US$400 million into the rehabilitation, restart and expansion of the two mines.

"As we reinvest, improve efficiencies and expand exploration, we expect production to grow beyond these levels," Sikwila said.

To support the growth strategy, the company has strengthened its technical leadership by appointing Antonio Nieto as Vice President for Technical Services. Nieto brings more than 25 years of international mining experience, while global engineering consultancy WSP Global has been engaged to conduct definitive feasibility studies across Namib's operations, including Redwing.

The revival projects are also expected to deliver substantial employment benefits. As rehabilitation work intensifies, former workers have already begun returning to both Redwing and Mazowe. Direct employment across Namib's Zimbabwean operations is projected to increase from 1,375 workers to approximately 3,100 once both mines are fully operational, with thousands more jobs expected to be supported indirectly through local suppliers and service providers.

The company's expansion plans also extend beyond mining production.

Namib intends to replicate the community development model established at How Mine, where it has supported healthcare infrastructure and provides free basic healthcare services through its clinic.

At Redwing, the company is already upgrading the mine clinic, acquiring a new ambulance for community use and making the mine bus available to local schoolchildren.

"At Redwing, for example, we are upgrading the mine clinic, which provides free basic healthcare to the surrounding community. A new ambulance has been acquired to serve the community, and the mine bus will be available for local school children. It's just the start of many community partnership projects," Sikwila said.

With rehabilitation works progressing, technical studies advancing and funding initiatives moving forward simultaneously, industry observers are increasingly viewing the revival of Redwing and Mazowe as one of the most significant gold growth stories emerging in Zimbabwe and the wider Southern African region.

"What I want people to understand is that this is not just a plan on paper," Sikwila said.

"It is already in motion."