Chiwenga Urges Value Addition to Protect Zimbabwe’s Mineral Wealth for Future Generations

Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has issued a stern warning about the consequences of exporting raw minerals without processing, stressing that Zimbabwe risks being condemned by future generations if it fails to add value to its abundant mineral wealth. Speaking during a tour of Sandawana Mine in Mberengwa on March 4, 2026, Chiwenga underscored the importance of industrialising rural areas where minerals are found, urging the nation to leave a lasting legacy of wealth rather than environmental degradation and infrastructural damage.

The government recently accelerated a ban on the export of raw lithium and concentrates, implementing the prohibition immediately rather than waiting until 2027 as initially planned. This decision followed reports of widespread abuse during the transition period, where some companies stockpiled ore and illicitly transported it across borders for export. Mines Minister Polite Kambamura and Information Secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana condemned these actions as plundering Zimbabwe’s national heritage and undermining sovereignty.

Sandawana Mine, owned by the Mutapa Investment Fund under its energy minerals portfolio, is advancing plans to build a lithium concentrator plant at an estimated cost of US$275 million. The facility aims to process three million tonnes of ore annually, with commissioning targeted for December 2027. Chiwenga highlighted this development as a critical step toward shifting Zimbabwe from a raw material supplier to a mineral processing hub, particularly in rural communities like Mberengwa.

Reflecting on past experiences, Chiwenga criticised the export of unprocessed lithium for causing road destruction and pollution without delivering tangible economic benefits. He warned that failing to create value from mineral resources would leave future Zimbabweans with nothing to show for their inheritance, potentially leading them to “spit on our graves.” The vice president called beneficiation “no longer optional” but essential for economic transformation and rural industrialisation.

During his visit, Chiwenga appealed to traditional leaders to support efforts that would see modern infrastructure and urban development replace pastures and mines in rural areas. He expressed a vision of tall buildings and thriving cities in places like Mberengwa, signalling a broader ambition to decentralise industrial growth beyond Zimbabwe’s major urban centres.

Chiwenga’s tour of Sandawana Mine is part of a wider mission to visit other mining projects across the Midlands province over the coming days. His message is clear: Zimbabwe must harness its mineral wealth responsibly, ensuring that the benefits extend beyond immediate profits to build sustainable economic foundations for generations to come.

Related topics: Constantino Chiwenga, minerals export ban, lithium mining, Zimbabwe government policy, natural resources, industrialisation, mineral wealth, economic legacy, rural development

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