Chiwenga backs Zimbabwe mineral export ban

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has warned that future generations will condemn today's leaders if Zimbabwe continues exporting raw minerals without adding value to them.

His remarks come in the wake of the Government's decision to immediately ban the export of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates after authorities raised concerns over the underdeclaration of mineral exports by some mining companies.

The ban had initially been scheduled to take effect in 2027, but the Government said some mining firms had begun rushing to export as much raw material as possible before the deadline.

Speaking to traditional chiefs in Mberengwa on Wednesday during a tour of the State-owned Sandawana Mines, Chiwenga said Zimbabwe risked leaving behind abandoned pits instead of lasting economic benefits if raw lithium continued to be exported without beneficiation.

"As we mine, we are leaving these pits open and next generations will ask what used to happen here and we will tell them we used to mine lithium here and have nothing to show for it," he said.

"We will be foolish to leave nothing except pits for the generations to come. We are not the first nor the last. There were generations who came before us and left these natural resources and we should do the same to leave wealth for future generations."

Chiwenga added that leaders must ensure the country benefits meaningfully from its mineral wealth.

"If we do not leave anything for the future generations, they will spit on our graves. Let us leave a legacy which will be respected," he said.

The Vice President also raised concern over the environmental and infrastructure damage associated with exporting raw lithium ore, saying the country was previously suffering the negative effects without gaining sufficient economic value.

"We were exporting lithium ore, our roads were getting destroyed by trucks, pollution and everything, but we were getting nothing," he said.

"When we do mining, we should do value addition for economic growth."

Chiwenga further stressed that mining investments should contribute to the development of rural communities, transforming them into industrial and economic hubs.

"We want rural industrialisation for development. We must build cities here in the rural," he said.

Sandawana Mines, which falls under the Mutapa Investment Fund's Energy Minerals portfolio, is advancing plans to construct a lithium concentrator plant estimated to cost between US$275 million.

The proposed facility is expected to process up to three million tonnes of ore per year, with commissioning targeted for December 2027.