Mutapa appoints new leader for key mining subsidiary, Kuvimba

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

CHIEF REPORTER

Kuvimba Mining House, a Zimbabwean State-owned mining company, has announced the appointment of Trevor Barnard as its Acting Group Chief Executive Officer.

The mining giant is a subsidiary of Mutapa Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Zimbabwe, which is led by former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mangudya.

Barnard takes over from Simba Chinyemba, who will assume the role of Chief Investment Officer at Mutapa Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund that owns Kuvimba.

“The Board of Kuvimba Mining House has announced the appointment of Trevor Barnard as the Acting GCEO for the group,” said J.H. Mupamhanga, Chairman of Kuvimba Mining House (Private) Limited, in a statement.

Barnard is an engineer with over 35 years of experience in the mining and cement manufacturing industries across Africa. He currently heads Kuvimba’s Energy Cluster, which includes its lithium operations.

“Mr. Barnard brings a wealth of technical and leadership experience that will propel KMH towards a competitive and cutting-edge position on the market,” Mupamhanga added.

Kuvimba Mining House is a key player in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, holding some of the country’s most valuable assets. These include gold and nickel mines, as well as lithium and platinum deposits. The recent takeover of Kuvimba by Mutapa Investment Fund aimed to consolidate government control over the mining sector.

Previously, the government held a 65% stake in Kuvimba, with private investors owning the remaining 35%. The full acquisition by Mutapa brought an end to speculation about the company’s ownership structure, which had been complex and unclear.