Zimbabwean geologist Patrick Takaedza has been appointed Vice President of Exploration at Nasdaq-listed Namib Minerals (NASDAQ: NAMM), adding a seasoned exploration executive to the company’s leadership team as it pursues expansion projects and the revival of key gold mining assets in Zimbabwe.
The appointment, announced on November 14, 2026, places Takaedza at the centre of Namib Minerals’ strategy to grow mineral resources and strengthen its exploration pipeline across existing and future operations.
His role comes at a pivotal time for the company, which is advancing plans to restart the historic Redwing and Mazowe gold mines while continuing production at How Mine near Bulawayo.
Takaedza brings decades of geological and exploration experience spanning Africa, Australia and Asia.
His career has been defined by work in both greenfields and brownfields exploration programmes, with expertise covering a diverse range of commodities including gold, iron ore, copper, silver, industrial minerals and battery metals.
Before joining Namib Minerals, Takaedza served as Group Chief Geologist at RioZim Limited, where he was responsible for driving mineral resource growth across the group’s mining portfolio. In that role, he oversaw exploration drilling campaigns, resource evaluation programmes and project development initiatives aimed at extending mine life and identifying new growth opportunities.
His professional experience also includes senior geological positions at Marampa Mines in Sierra Leone and Sterling Investment Partners, where he played key roles in exploration, resource assessment and project evaluations.
A graduate of the University of Zimbabwe, Takaedza is recognised within the international geological community through memberships in several leading professional bodies. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG), the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM), and the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MSAIMM).
Industry observers view the appointment as a strategic move by Namib Minerals as the company strengthens technical leadership to support resource growth and operational expansion. Exploration is expected to play a critical role in enhancing the value of the company’s asset base, particularly as it seeks to unlock additional ounces from existing operations and advance mine redevelopment projects.
Takaedza joins the company during a period of significant leadership reorganisation. Namib Minerals has recently reshaped its executive team with the appointments of Tulani Sikwila as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sphe Mchunu as Chief Financial Officer and Antonio Nieto as Vice President of Technical Services.
The leadership overhaul is intended to support the company’s next phase of growth, which includes a planned US$300 million to US$400 million investment programme focused on restarting the Redwing and Mazowe gold mines. The projects are expected to strengthen Zimbabwe’s gold production capacity while creating new opportunities for exploration-led resource expansion.
For Takaedza, the new role marks another milestone in a career that has increasingly positioned him among Zimbabwe’s most accomplished mining professionals.
His appointment also highlights the continued emergence of Zimbabwean geological expertise in leadership positions within internationally listed mining companies.
As Vice President of Exploration, Takaedza is expected to lead efforts to expand Namib Minerals’ resource base, identify new exploration opportunities and support the technical evaluation of projects that underpin the company’s long-term growth strategy. 
