BULAWAYO– Tebekwe Mine, a subsidiary of the diversified River Valley Group, has further cemented its status as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s extractive sector after scooping a prestigious top award at the ZimCEO’s Network awards ceremony held in Bulawayo on Friday evening.
The Shurugwi-based gold miner emerged as the Gold winner in the Top Company in Southern Region – Mining, Mining Supplies, and Extraction category. The accolade recognizes the company’s “unwavering commitment to sustainable mining practices, pioneering resource extraction techniques, and a robust supply chain network.”
The recognition comes at a time when the Second Republic, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is aggressively pushing the mining sector to lead the charge towards achieving Vision 2030. Government policies have focused on the formalization of small-to-medium scale mines and creating an “open for business” environment that encourages value addition and local beneficiation.
Speaking after receiving the award, River Valley Group Chairman, Eng Dr. Mncedisi Dube, stated that the achievement reflects the company’s alignment with national development goals.
“This award is a testament to the investments and progress we have made over the years,” Eng Dube said. “We have transitioned from being a small-scale operation to a full-fledged mine, now employing over 200 people and maintaining significant production levels. Our growth mirrors the trajectory our President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa envisions for indigenous-led industrialization.”
Beyond resource extraction, the award highlights the holistic business model championed by the Dubes. Tebekwe Mine Manager, Ambassador Professor Smelly Dube, emphasized that their operations are deeply rooted in the philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
“At Tebekwe, we don’t just focus on mining gold; we approach everything in a holistic manner,” Amb Dube said. “We empower workers and local people financially, spiritually, and morally. We have introduced various economic incentives for our staff, and our Sunday church services held at the mine help foster an environment of peace, respect, and discipline.”
Both Eng Dr. Mncedisi Dube and Ambassador Prof Smelly Dube have established a long-standing reputation of philanthropy and community development that predates this recent accolade. Through the River Valley Group, they have been instrumental in housing provision benefiting thousands in many Districts, education, sports development and taking care of the elderly, Notable widows.
In November the Dubes are set to receive global accolades in Dubai and Abuja, respectively. Indeed they are making a positive mark, at home and abroad.
Tebekwe Mine’s evolution into a regional leader serves as a success story for the Government’s Mining Roadmap. By integrating modern extraction technology with a robust CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program, the mine is contributing directly to the country’s GDP while ensuring that the “mining windfall” reaches the grassroots level,in line with Vision 2030.
The awards ceremony organizers noted that Tebekwe Mine’s ability to maintain a “robust supply chain” in a fluctuating global market sets a benchmark for other regional players.
Accompanying the leadership to the podium were Group Company Secretary Mrs. Sitholokuhle Jemuce and other senior delegates, who hailed the award as a morale booster for the workforce. As the company continues its expansion, it remains a vital cog in the Midlands province’s economic engine, proving that indigenous mining firms are the vanguard of Zimbabwe’s economic resurgence, indeed “Nyika lnovakwa Nevene Vayo/ Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanizi Balo “
