ABER Congratulates Queen Mthembu on Top Pan-African Mining Honour in Zimbabwe

ABER Congratulates Queen Mthembu on Top Pan-African Mining Honour in Zimbabwe
The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) has congratulated HRH Queen Nosipho Mthembu on receiving the Outstanding Pan-African Mining Sector Leader and Visionary Award in Zimbabwe.
Mthembu, Deputy Chairperson of the ABER Women’s Forum and Director of Blue Sovereignty and Traditional Ocean Governance, received the honour at the Africa Mining Convention Awards (AMCA) in Victoria Falls.
The ABER Convener and Founder, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, described the recognition as a testament to her leadership, innovation and contribution to Africa’s blue economy.
The congratulatory message was contained in a statement on Friday by ABER’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Hajiya Medina Dauda Nadabo.
According to Kiyaramo, Mthembu’s recognition reflects her commitment to sustainable resource management, inclusive development and community prosperity across Africa.
The AMCA jury described the award as its highest honour, recognising her contribution to transforming mineral resource governance through value addition and inclusive economic development.
The jury said Mthembu had championed beneficiation over extraction, inclusion over exclusion, and community prosperity over enclave development.
It also cited her leadership in the ABER Women’s Forum and her concepts of the Africa Blue Ocean Economy Institute (ABOEI) and Pan-African Coastal Community College (PACC).
According to the jury, the initiatives offer practical pathways for implementing the Africa Mining Vision and empowering women and young people in mining communities.
It said her work had helped bridge the gap between mining, ocean governance, public policy and community development.
The jury consequently inducted her into the Pan-African Mining Leaders Hall of Fame, citing her commitment to inclusive mining leadership and the principles of Ubuntu.
In her acceptance remarks, Mthembu dedicated the award to women in mining and coastal communities across Africa, as well as the people of Zimbabwe.
Kiyaramo said her induction into the hall of fame reinforced ABER’s integrated approach to sustainable development across Africa.
He said the approach linked mining, maritime activities and ocean governance to promote economic growth, environmental sustainability and improved livelihoods.
ABER is a pan-African, multi-stakeholder platform promoting the implementation of the African Union’s Africa Blue Economy Strategy, Africa Mining Vision and Agenda 2063.
Its mandate also covers the Lomé Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14 on life below water.
The organisation operates across policy advocacy, inclusive growth, capacity building, research, innovation and investment facilitation.
Through its Women’s Forum and Youth in Blue Economy Initiative, ABER promotes greater access to leadership, finance, ownership and markets for women and young people.
Its capacity-building programmes also focus on ocean governance, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, green shipping, mineral beneficiation and traditional ocean knowledge.
The organisation’s REMAP AFRICA doctrine promotes local processing and value addition, encouraging African countries to move from exporting raw minerals to producing finished goods.
The doctrine advances the principle of moving “from pit to port, and from mine to market” to retain more economic value within African communities.