By Simbarashe Muparaganda
Bulawayo, (New Ziana) –The mining sector in Zimbabwe should move beyond generating national wealth and economic growth to delivering tangible benefits for ordinary citizens through value addition, beneficiation and industrialisation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Friday.
He said this in a speech delivered on his behalf by Vice President (Rtd) General Constantino Chiwenga during the official opening of the 28th edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) Expo at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo which was held under the theme, “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains”.
He said the Second Republic had fundamentally shifted the mining policy from exporting raw minerals to building domestic industries that maximise value from the vast mineral resources in the country.
“Ultimately the mining industry must not only aid in expanding the national wealth or economic growth, but result in tangible benefits to the ordinary citizens. Zimbabwe is acclaimed for high deposits of critical minerals and for a long time was a renowned source of raw minerals for other global industries, whilst our own became stagnant and antiquated,” he said.
“We have said, ‘Not any more’. Under my leadership and administration, that narrative is changing. I urge stakeholders and partners to decisively and boldly transition to this new reality. The steps we are taking have not been undertaken by many, on our continent or the Global South, but as a sovereign nation and masters of our own destiny, I am confident that we are up to the challenge,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the rapidly changing global economy demands that Zimbabwe evolves its mining industry in line with national interests, anchored on local processing and industrialisation.
He added that the objective is to build a value-added mining economy capable of creating jobs, industries and sustainable economic growth.
President Mnangagwa implored delegates to develop innovative financing models that leverage the natural resources to fund national development, adding that developing countries could no longer depend on traditional international financial institutions.
“As developing countries, we must increasingly rely and depend on ourselves, our own skills, capabilities and indeed, natural resources,” the President said.
He reminded mining companies that they were custodians of resources belonging to all Zimbabweans and had a responsibility to ensure the country’s mineral wealth translated into local development and economic sovereignty.
“My government will continue to implement enabling policies and programmes and ensure that we derive maximum benefits from the mining value chain. Together, we have a duty to manage our resources for increased local development, sustainability and economic sovereignty,” he said.
President Mnangagwa spoke against the continued export of unprocessed minerals, saying the government would no longer tolerate the undervaluation or misdeclaration of mineral exports.
“The days where consignments leave our borders, declared simply as ‘ore’ or ‘concentrates’, meanwhile containing valuable and rare earth minerals are over,” he said.
He reiterated that from January next year, the country expects to export only lithium sulphate instead of raw lithium concentrates, adding that the government has introduced transitional quota arrangements to enable mining companies to complete beneficiation plants without disrupting production.
President Mnangagwa hailed the milestone achievement after Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe exported Africa’s first locally produced lithium sulphate in April this year, and challenged developers of lithium processing plants at Bikita, Kamativi and Sandawana Mines to expedite construction.
He also said similar value-addition requirements would apply to platinum group metals, with the government expecting completion of a precious minerals refinery within agreed timelines.
President Mnangagwa also stressed that mining operations should uphold environmental sustainability and social responsibility. warning that corrupt public officials and mining companies involved in bribery or environmental violations would face stern action.
He further challenged the sector to deepen local procurement, saying a significant share of manufactured imports currently servicing the mining industry should instead be produced domestically to support industrialisation.
President Mnangagwa also called on mining companies to embrace digital transformation by adopting geospatial mapping, automation and artificial intelligence while strengthening partnerships with institutions of higher learning to drive innovation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the government to support both large-scale and small-scale miners, noting that artisanal and small-scale miners remain the argest contributors to gold deliveries in the country.
“Mining should be more than a business, but the arena through which you serve the people of our nation, for both present and future generations. Exploit our natural resources, therefore, with uttermost discipline, zeal, honesty and integrity,” he urged.
New Ziana
