Deep Yellow Appoints New MD to Lead Namibian Operations

Deep Yellow has announced the appointment of Zebra Kasete as the new Managing Director for its Namibian operations, marking a significant step in the company’s transition toward the construction and development of the Tumas uranium project. Effective January 5, Kasete will assume responsibility for overseeing the construction phase, leading operational readiness initiatives, and representing the company as its Namibian country head from Swakopmund. His appointment reflects Deep Yellow’s strategic intent to reinforce leadership capacity as it advances toward a final investment decision on what is expected to become Namibia’s fourth uranium mine.

Kasete arrives with an extensive track record of more than 35 years in the mining sector, covering commodities such as uranium, diamonds, copper, and gold. His professional experience includes senior leadership roles across several countries, demonstrating both technical depth and cross cultural operational competence. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at Sinomine’s Tsumeb Smelter in Namibia, where he was responsible for guiding complex metallurgical operations. Before that, he served as Managing Director of Murowa Diamond in Zimbabwe, a role that further honed his capacity to manage large scale mining enterprises.

A major part of Kasete’s experience stems from his 25 year career with Rio Tinto, during which he began at Rössing Uranium, one of Namibia’s most iconic mining operations, and advanced through a series of senior technical and leadership positions. His exposure to mining jurisdictions in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Australia, and the United States has equipped him with a global perspective on operational systems, stakeholder engagement, and the regulatory frameworks that underpin modern mining ventures. Academically, he complements his field experience with an MBA in General and Strategic Management from the University of Maastricht, enabling him to bridge the technical and strategic dimensions of mine development.

At Deep Yellow, Kasete will be instrumental in preparing the organisation for the greenfield development of the Tumas uranium project. His role includes building the operational team, establishing readiness frameworks, and ensuring that key development milestones are aligned with safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance expectations. Deep Yellow views his appointment as central to strengthening leadership capability as the company moves closer to a final investment decision, with Tumas positioned to play a transformative role in expanding Namibia’s uranium production portfolio and enhancing long term sector stability.

Kasete has expressed enthusiasm about returning to Namibia’s uranium sector, where his career began, and has underscored his commitment to guiding Tumas through its next phase of development. His leadership is expected to influence not only Deep Yellow’s growth trajectory but also Namibia’s broader mining industry by contributing to job creation, knowledge transfer, and increased sector competitiveness. As global demand for nuclear energy continues to rise, the successful advancement of Tumas could bolster Namibia’s standing as a key supplier in the international uranium market.

Mini Glossary

• Greenfield project: A new project built from the ground up, without reliance on previous infrastructure.
• Operational readiness: Preparatory processes that ensure a project can move safely and efficiently into production.
• Final investment decision (FID): A company’s formal commitment to fully fund and execute a major project.
• Metallurgical operations: Industrial processes involved in extracting and refining metals from ores.