London-listed Kavango Resources has appointed Jasper Musadaidzwa as CEO and executive director, with immediate effect.

Donald McAlister has stepped down from his role as nonexecutive chairperson and interim CEO following Musadaidzwa’s appointment. He now serves as executive chairperson of the company.

"Jasper is an outstanding mining executive with a proven record of building, improving and leading major operations across Africa, and I am delighted that he has agreed to join Kavango as our new CEO,” says McAlister.

He notes that Kavango has reached an important stage of its development.

“We have established a growing operational platform in Zimbabwe and our ambition is to build this into a substantial and sustainable mining business, while continuing to advance the exploration potential across our wider portfolio.

"Jasper's extensive operational experience, knowledge of African mining and record of delivering growth make him exceptionally well suited to lead Kavango through this next phase. I believe his appointment represents an endorsement of Kavango's potential and an important step forward for the company,” he continues.

In a statement to shareholders, Kavango explains that Musadaidzwa is a highly experienced mining executive with more than 27 years of experience across the mining industry, including 17 years with AngloGold Ashanti where he held a series of senior operational and executive leadership positions across Africa.

Most recently, he served as senior VP of AngloGold’s Guinea business unit, where he led a major operational and financial turnaround following a period of underperformance.

Under his leadership, the operation's life-of-mine was extended from this year to 2034, its net present value was doubled and the business was restored to sustainable cash generation.

Prior to this, Musadaidzwa also served as senior operations VP for AngloGold’s Africa region, with responsibility for four mines across Ghana, Tanzania, Mali and Guinea.

The operations collectively produced about 1.1-million ounces of gold yearly, generated about $2-billion in revenue and employed more than 14 000 people.

His earlier positions with AngloGold included MD and GM of the Iduapriem gold mine, in Ghana; operations manager at the Siguiri gold mine, in Guinea; and senior technical and operational roles at the Geita gold mine, in Tanzania.

Before joining AngloGold, Musadaidzwa worked for Anglo American at the Skorpion zinc mine, in Namibia, and began his mining career in Zimbabwe.

"Joining Kavango is an opportunity that carries particular significance for me. I began my mining career in Zimbabwe nearly three decades ago and I am extremely excited to be returning to help build a mining company with the ambition to create lasting value in the country and across Southern Africa.

"I have spent much of my career leading mining businesses through periods of transformation, growth and operational improvement.

“My focus has always been on turning mining potential into sustainable value by improving operations, extending mine life and building businesses that can perform consistently over the long term,” says Musadaidzwa.

He notes that Kavango has already established an exciting platform in Zimbabwe.

Musadaidzwa says his immediate priority will be to work with the team to build on that foundation, strengthen its operational capability and progress the company towards becoming a sustainable, cash-generative mining business.

"I believe there is a significant opportunity ahead of us and I look forward to working with the board, management and our teams on the ground to realise Kavango's potential,” he comments.