An assessment of the critical success factors for technological capability building and sustainable development in the mining sector: A case study of the platinum mining industry in Zimbabwe

Abstract

There is an ever increasing demand to improve capabilities for the mining sector, especially the platinum sector which is faced with declining metal prices threating the viability of operations. To this effect, this study assessed the technological capability development and sustainable development factors affecting the platinum mining sector in Zimbabwe. The study adopted a positivism approach based on quantitative survey in analysing the current levels of technological capabilities development and sustainable development in the platinum mining sector. The study further investigated institutional mechanisms in place to support technological capabilities accumulation and sustainable development. Furthermore, the study sought to establish the critical success factors affecting technological development and sustainable development affecting the platinum mining sector in Zimbabwe. The study focussed on the three mining operations along the Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke. A pilot tested structured questionnaire was used to solicit responses from junior, middle and senior management of the operations who were selected using stratified random sampling. The study found and concluded that the integration of regulatory framework, management capabilities and capital budgets are critical factors for technological capability development. The unfavourable regulatory framework had a negative impact on technological capability development whilst the other predictors had a positive impact. All explanatory sustainable development factors were found to have no implication on sustainable development except for environmental factors. Policy recommendations and managerial recommendations were made and possible areas for further research were suggested.