By Jeremiah Gora
The President, His Excellency Cde, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has declared an end to the export of mineral consignments falsely declared as “ore” or “concentrates” while containing valuable and rare earth minerals, warning that his Government will no longer tolerate leakages that deprive Zimbabwe of revenue and value from its natural resources.
Officially opening the 28th Mine Entra Conference in Bulawayo today through Vice President Dr Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga, the President said Zimbabwe was entering a new era of transparency, value addition and beneficiation in the mining sector as part of the Second Republic’s economic transformation agenda.
“The days where consignments leave our borders, declared simply as ‘ore’ or ‘concentrates’, meanwhile containing valuable and rare earth minerals are over. My Government is wide awake,” President Mnangagwa said in his address.
The conference, held under the theme, “Unearth, Transform, Prosper: Anchoring Economic Transformation Through Mining Value Chains,” brought together Government officials, mining executives, engineers, investors and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to enhance value addition, beneficiation and industrialisation.
President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic was determined to build a value-added mining economy that delivers tangible benefits to ordinary Zimbabweans rather than exporting raw minerals.
“Under the Second Republic, the aim is to build a value-added mining economy. Through beneficiation and industrialisation, we want to guarantee maximum value from our God-given natural resources,” he said.
He said the mining industry should not only expand national wealth but also improve the livelihoods of citizens through inclusive economic growth.
The President announced that Zimbabwe expects to export only lithium sulphate by January 2027 as Government intensifies efforts to move up the mineral value chain.
“It is my expectation that, by January 2027, Zimbabwe will only export lithium sulphate,” he said, adding that Government had introduced an orderly quota arrangement to enable producers to transition without disrupting operations.
President Mnangagwa hailed the country’s progress in lithium beneficiation, noting that Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe exported Africa’s first locally produced lithium sulphate in April this year.
He challenged developers of lithium sulphate plants at Bikita, Kamativi and Sandawana to expedite construction, saying Zimbabwe was poised to become the only African country with multiple lithium processing facilities.
The Head of State also directed mining companies to operate responsibly, warning that environmental degradation, pollution and corruption would not be tolerated.
“My administration will not broker conditions where the health, livelihoods and general wellbeing of communities are compromised for profit expediency,” he said.
He added, “Corrupt public sector officials and inspectors who turn a blind eye to breaches of our laws, in return for sleazy bribes, will be sternly dealt with, along with the entities that offer the kickbacks.”
President Mnangagwa urged mining companies to support local manufacturing, embrace digital technologies and strengthen partnerships with institutions of higher learning to promote innovation and industrial growth.
He also reaffirmed Government’s commitment to creating a conducive investment climate while ensuring that the country’s mineral resources are exploited in a manner that advances economic sovereignty and benefits present and future generations.
“Mining, for Zimbabwe, is no longer merely a line of revenue. It is one of the central pillars through which we are building, developing, modernising and industrialising our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
Vice President Chiwenga officially declared the 2026 Mine Entra Conference open on behalf of President Mnangagwa.
