Chiwenga tours lithium projects in Midlands province

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is visiting major lithium projects in Midlands province, including the US$1.5 million lithium processing plant built by Chinese investor Zhe Li Mining Investments in Zvishavane and the Sandawana Mines in Mberengwa.

Chiwenga has already toured the Zvishavane lithium processing facility and is currently receiving a briefing at Sandawana Mines alongside government officials and mining managers.

Sandawana, historically renowned for producing high-quality emeralds since 1958, has transformed into a world-class lithium mining operation under the ownership of Kuvimba Mining House, now managed by Zimbabwe's Sovereign Wealth Fund, Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF).

Through its subsidiary, Mutapa Energy Minerals, MIF is aggressively expanding its portfolio, aiming to triple output at Sandawana. The company has partnered with Chinese firms to construct a lithium concentrate plant, with construction set to start in June 2026. The project involves a US$270 million investment and targets a 600,000-ton annual lithium concentration capacity, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027.

The Zvishavane project, led by Zhe Li Mining Investments, will see its new lithium processing plant handle around 500 tonnes of ore daily, further cementing Zimbabwe's growing role in the global lithium market.

The developments come as lithium gains strategic importance worldwide, driven by demand for batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. To capitalize on this trend, the Zimbabwean government has banned the export of raw mineral ore and lithium concentrate, boosting global prices.

Zimbabwe, endowed with gold, lithium, platinum, diamonds, and chrome, supplies 10% of global lithium demand and 19% of China's imports, making it Africa's largest producer. Sandawana, famous for over four decades for its high-quality emeralds, has drawn investment interest from China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Recent explorations at Sandawana revealed massive lithium-rich pegmatite veins, with potential resources estimated at 200 million tonnes, possibly reaching 600 million tonnes across the 3,882-hectare site. The mine also contains deposits of tantalite, gold, and copper.

The shift from emeralds to lithium is part of a broader strategy to boost Zimbabwe's export value, encourage local processing of raw materials, and strengthen the country's standing in the global renewable energy supply chain.