In light of the recent ban on raw mineral exports, Zimbabwe will now insist that mining projects invest in multi-processing plants designed to capture the full spectrum of minerals found within the country’s complex ore bodies.
This was said by Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President of Zimbabwe, George Charamba on his X feed @Jammwanda2 today.
“Contemporaneous with this are Government investments in lab facilities at mining centres and districts which seek to cause greater accountability for miners, many of whom took advantage of our multi-element ore bodies in the country to under-declare export value,” Charamba said.
It also comes after China’s ambassador to Zimbabwe Ding Zhou recently issued a statement advising Chinese investors to further strengthen risk prevention and compliance awareness after the export ban.
“From the Chinese, both the Embassy and a leading Chinese academic, Associate Professor Zhou Jinyan, have given clear messages of understanding Zimbabwe’s policy shift to greater beneficiation of its lithium resource which has seen a blanket ban on exportation of lithium ore,” Charamba wrote on X.
Referring to the need for multi-processing mining plants he explained that Zimbabwe possesses unique geological attributes through which every ore body carries multiple minerals, “yet miners register and set up for just one mineral element, while exporting ore and matte rich in several minerals”.
“Often, the least value mineral element is what gets registered for purposes of paying royalties, which more valuable elements are excluded, only to be enjoyed when the matte is processed extra-territorially. Both value and jobs are lost through externalization,” he said.
“Zimbabwe will forge ahead determinedly, paying little regard to short-term interests which, until now have stopped the country from enjoying full value and quality jobs. The future is bright and tertiary institutions are being repurposed while linkages are being made to ensure this new thrust.
“There is no going back, consistent with goals of NDS2 and Vision 2030 gunning for a Zimbabwe which is an Upper Middle-Income Economy in which none is left behind.”
Describing investment moves by Chinese Corporates based in Goromonzi, Bikita and Kamativi as spectacular he said a new US$500 million project by British-registered X18 Capital PLC on lithium oxide reserves in Inzisa, Matabeleland South would be both extractive and processing.
This would be in line with Zimbabwe’s bold new policy aimed at developing a lithium value chain and industry in the country.
He explained that Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is in charge of Economic Ministries has been on the road, covering lithium projects in Midlands, Masvingo and Manicaland to explain the new direction to all players who are expected to play a huge role in the Mapinga Lithium Industrial Park, in close partnership with Government.
“Equally, the iron processor at Manhize, DISCO, has been approached on the same, giving positive signals. Previously, the Vice President was in Kamativi for the same, eliciting a serious commitment of intent from the Chinese company at work there. It is important to stress that Government expectations in the lithium sector also obtain in respect of other ores across the mining industry.”
