In our previous article, “Blasting: The Unsung Hero That Shaped the World,” we explored how explosives and the science of blasting have quietly propelled human progress.

The overwhelming response—especially from young Zimbabweans eager to carve their paths—inspired this follow-up. Today, we pull back the curtain on the grit, curiosity, and relentless learning required to master this field.

Let’s detonate myths, discuss the grind, and discover the blueprint for excellence. Your path will be different but just enjoy the journey that the blasting geek has travelled!

The Spark: A Childhood Epiphany in Manicaland
His first exposure to blasting wasn’t in a pristine mine or a high-tech quarry—it was on the rugged banks of the Macheke River in rural Manicaland in the early 90s.
A bridge was being constructed to connect isolated communities, but the blasting crew lacked expertise.

Dynamite charges were haphazardly placed, and fly rock—chunks of debris hurled meters away—rained down like shrapnel, damaging nearby crops and terrifying villagers.

As a small boy, he watched as a misdirected blast shattered the windshield of a passing truck. In that chaos, he saw more than danger; he saw a glaring gap.

“This is not how it should be,” he thought. If blasting could move mountains, why were these crews moving rocks recklessly?

That moment ignited his obsession: explosives, when mastered, could be tools of precision, not pandemonium.

Formal Training: The University Years
An opportunity arose, and he secured a place at the University of Zimbabwe. There, he immersed himself in geology, mathematics, chemistry, rock mechanics, and explosives engineering.

Textbooks taught him the theory of detonation and rock mechanics, but it was well-written articles by Atlas Copco in their “Talking Technically” series that seared the stakes into his mind.

One visiting professor from India often reminded him that, “A blaster’s arrogance is deadlier than dynamite.” Those words have become his mantra.

Early Career: Trials by Fire in the Platinum Belt
His second-year attachment at a platinum mine on Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke was a humbling baptism.

The mine was trialling electronic detonators, a novelty in the early 2000s. Overconfident from academic success, he begged to design a blast sequence.

Ignoring subtle ground conditions—a sign of unstable strata—he mistimed the delays, causing a misfire that stalled operations for days.

The project lead, a veteran named Maines, roared, “You think the rock cares about your degree?” His fury was justified. That failure taught him to listen to the rock before commanding it.

Mentorship and Growth
For his postgraduate learnership, he was seconded to a limestone quarry near Kwekwe.

There, he met Raja—a grizzled mentor with hands scarred by decades of breaking rock. “Blasting is 10% explosives, 90% understanding the rock,” he growled as they studied the dolomites in the limestone pit.

Under his tutelage, they blended global best practices with local wisdom. By adopting these practices, they boosted productivity by 30% while stabilizing the pit walls. Raja’s lesson “Innovation without respect for tradition is just noise.”

Specialization and Mastering the Craft
After witnessing an underground mine reduce its misfire rate from around 11% to below 0.5% by adopting an electronic blasting system, he vowed to specialize.

He pursued advanced explosives engineering courses in South Africa and the USA. Returning home, he implemented learnings that improved productivity, safety, and efficiency at various mines.

He has contributed to blasting in highly sensitive areas—3 meters from an underground transformer and less than 10 meters from sensitive electronic components in a platinum processing plant.

His expertise soon took him beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, to countries like Mozambique, DRC, Botswana, and Namibia.

Mentorship: Lighting Fuses for the Next Generation
Today, his proudest role is mentoring young engineers. He partners with universities and colleges to help develop the next generation of blasting geeks.

As he often says, “An expert’s legacy is not in the craters they leave, but the minds they ignite.”

Blueprint for Aspiring Experts

• Master the Basics – Understand the fundamentals of blasting and explosives.
• Seek Mentors – Find your Raja. Their war stories could be your cheat codes.
• Fail Forward – Every misfire is a lesson. Document yours.
• Stay Curious – Attend webinars, conferences, and short courses. Solve local problems.
• Lead with Ethics – Communities and ecosystems are stakeholders.
  Detonate Your Potential
  Blasting experts don’t just move rocks—they move economies. Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 hinges on mining, and every good blast gets us closer.

To the young miners who have written to us—your hunger humbles us. The road is tough, but the impact is monumental.
Engage with Blasted Zone! Share your blasting stories or questions on the platform.

Next month, we’ll explore: How Women Are Redefining Zimbabwe’s Blasting Industry. Until then enjoy.
The Blasting Geek