Tears, Resignation and Alleged Plot: Chamber of Mines Leadership Crisis Erupts Ahead of Annual Conference

HARARE — The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe has been rocked by an unprecedented leadership crisis after outgoing president John Musekiwa reportedly broke down during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and declined an endorsement for a second term, triggering a chain of events that has left the influential mining body facing questions over its succession process.

The dramatic developments, which have not previously been publicly reported, occurred during an online AGM held on 28 May 2026, just weeks before the Chamber's Annual Mining Conference and Exhibition in Victoria Falls. Sources familiar with the proceedings claim the events bore the hallmarks of a coordinated effort to influence the leadership transition, although no formal complaint has been lodged and no evidence of wrongdoing has been independently verified.

According to multiple mining industry sources, the AGM was expected to be largely procedural after Musekiwa, Munashe Shava, and Fungai Makoni were nominated unopposed for the positions of president, first vice president, and second vice president, respectively. Under long-standing Chamber practice, uncontested nominees are typically endorsed without requiring a competitive vote.

The Chamber's leadership structure generally follows a succession hierarchy in which the first vice president progresses to the presidency, while the second vice president moves up accordingly. However, attendees say the meeting took an unexpected turn when a former Chamber president reportedly requested that each candidate be subjected to an individual vote despite their uncontested nominations.

“The intervention came as a surprise because, traditionally, the top three never go through an election after an uncontested nomination, even though this is something that is provided for in the constitution,” a senior mining executive who attended the meeting said.

After being put to a vote, Musekiwa reportedly received the required endorsement from members. However, attendees say a further intervention was made, requesting that he formally indicate whether he accepted the endorsement. It was at this point that Musekiwa allegedly became emotional before declining the position, citing health reasons. His decision immediately created uncertainty over the Chamber's leadership succession process. Industry insiders say the timing of the withdrawal surprised many delegates because it occurred only after he had secured endorsement from members. Neither Musekiwa nor Chamber officials have publicly elaborated on the circumstances surrounding the decision.

With the presidency suddenly vacant, delegates were forced to determine a replacement. According to sources, Makoni, Managing Director of Mimosa Mining Company, was nominated for the presidency despite Shava holding the position of first vice president and being next in line under the Chamber's customary succession arrangement. The unexpected development reportedly led to procedural disputes and a contested election between Shava and Makoni.

Attendees questioned voting procedures, the role of auditors, and the mechanics of the election process. One executive said some delegates were surprised to learn that auditors were already present and prepared to supervise the vote.

“Someone raised questions about logistics for the elections, such as the need for auditors, but to our surprise auditors were present, and this was also odd,” the executive said.

Sources further allege that lobbying and campaigning occurred during the voting process, with claims that some participants were pressured to reconsider their positions.

“We have established that people who had voted in a certain way were coerced to change their positions, and they rewrote emails indicating that they were switching candidates,” one executive alleged.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and no evidence has been produced publicly to substantiate the claims. Makoni ultimately emerged as the new Chamber president.

Sources say Shava subsequently resigned from his position as first vice president after concluding that the process had been manipulated. Neither Shava nor Musekiwa responded to requests for comment. The Chamber of Mines has not publicly addressed the allegations surrounding the AGM. The controversy comes as mining executives, investors, and policymakers gather in Victoria Falls for the Chamber's flagship annual conference, an event that traditionally focuses on investment, production growth, mineral beneficiation, and policy reforms within Zimbabwe's mining sector. With the industry facing renewed scrutiny over governance and transparency, questions surrounding the Chamber's leadership transition are likely to remain a topic of discussion in the weeks ahead.

Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe leadership crisis