Investor.
Partner.
Operator.

A closed alternative asset manager built for African mining.

Unamine SARL specialises in mining and metals in Africa. We believe our investment track record makes us one of the leading specialist standing alternative asset managers on the continent.

Unamine was founded in 2025 by David Kangai and Wicknell Chivayo, with backing from the Saffran Trust, with the goal of building an enduring, world-class mining investment management business. We have been at the forefront of Africa expansion among alternative asset managers, and offer a bespoke rare earth and critical mineral investment platform centred on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe.

Our funds seek consistent, positive, risk-adjusted returns through market cycles, with a strong focus on risk management and capital preservation. Portfolio composition is driven by global supply and demand in mining and metal commodities, rather than by any predetermined commitment to a single discipline or to an ‘out of continent’ geography.

Structured positions across the mining value chain.

As an Africa mine investor, we operate at scale and take an active role at every stage of the extractive value chain, using our expertise and financial strength to reduce complexity and bring markets together.

Two jurisdictions with defined mineral endowments.

Research-based analysis, with risk management at every stage.

We invest for long-term value creation through steady, consistent performance and limited use of leverage. Decisions rest on detailed, research-based analysis and thorough due diligence, and every investment decision incorporates risk management through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Risk management has been core to the business since inception.

We believe our embedded, team-based culture, and experience drawn solely from continental Africa, including the political and commercial dynamics of bids and tenders, differentiate us from competitors.

Our partners (executive managing directors) and managing directors derive virtually all of their income from participation in the profits of the entire business globally. This helps limit asymmetric risk between fund investors and our people, and fosters internal cooperation. All professional employees can progress to managing director and executive managing director, a strong incentive and retention mechanism.

1. Assessment

   Geological, metallurgical, legal, and community assessment by the in-house team before capital commitment, with independent verification where warranted.

2. Structuring

   Co-designed operational and commercial structures with defined governance, aligned incentives, and pre-agreed pathways for deployment and realisation.

3. Operating support

   On-site technical, compliance, supply chain, and community engagement, provided by the firm’s professionals rather than external consultants.

4. Offtake and realisation

   Traceable offtake with international buyers, structured to meet the compliance and provenance requirements of downstream manufacturers in regulated markets.

Technical and financial teams.

Our principals combine operating experience in African mining jurisdictions with capital markets and structured finance backgrounds. The long-term interests of fund investors are central to how we run the business and invest for growth.

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David Kangai

Co-Founder & Chief Executive

Mr. Kangai is a co-founder of Unamine. He has 15 years of experience across investment banking, minerals trading, and fund management in Africa, and holds an MBA from INSEAD. He leads mandate structuring, capital deployment, and sovereign engagement across the firm’s jurisdictions.

• Co-Founder
• Mandate structuring
• Sovereign relations

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Wicknell Chivayo

Co-Founder, Advisor & Investor

Mr. Chivayo is a co-founder of Unamine and a Zimbabwean energy and infrastructure entrepreneur who served as a strategic advisor and investor to the firm. As founder of Intratrek Zimbabwe, he secured major government-linked energy contracts including the Gwanda Solar Project (US$172m), Munyati Power Station refurbishment (US$163m), and Gairezi Hydroelectric Project (US$128m). His in-country relationships and project origination capabilities provided the firm with access and guidance in Zimbabwe. He held an investment position in the firm and advised on government relations, strategic partnerships, and large-scale project development.

• Co-Founder
• Advisor
• Investor
• Energy & infrastructure

RM

Rumbidzai Moyo

Chief Operating Officer

Ms. Moyo is a qualified mining engineer with 18 years of operational leadership across southern Africa. Formerly Production Manager at ZimCoal Ltd, she has led lithium and rare earth programmes in Zimbabwe. She oversees on-site operational teams, supply chain logistics, and environmental compliance.

• Operations
• Production
• Compliance

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Grace Kasongo

Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Kasongo is a capital markets and minerals finance specialist with 14 years in commodity trading, export credit, and project finance. Formerly Head of Trade Finance at Standard Bank Zimbabwe, she is a chartered accountant. She oversees capital deployment, investor reporting, offtake negotiations, and financial risk management.

• Finance
• Offtake structuring
• Risk management

JM

Jean-Blaise Mukendi

Founding Partner, Benefaction & Community

Mr. Mukendi is a founding partner of Unamine and a sustainability strategist based in the DRC with 12 years of stakeholder alignment experience across complex mining environments. Formerly Director of Social Performance at Glencore Congo operations, he manages benefaction commitments, workforce development, and local partnership sustainability.

• Founding partner
• Community engagement
• DRC operations

Enquiries.

Unamine works with a small number of institutional investors and mining joint-venture partners. Introductions are made through existing investors, counsel, or counterparties. Select the route relevant to your matter.