Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere in MBERENGWA
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all minerals mined are declared, moving away from the previous practice of companies reporting only those minerals that are predominantly present, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
He added this was part of a broader strategy to enhance local value addition, following the recent ban on raw mineral exports.
VP Chiwenga is on a three-day tour of the Midlands Province, assessing strategic economic projects and evaluating how they serve local communities and contribute to the national economy.
His tour included visits to Zhe Lithium Mine in Zvishavane and Sandawana Mine in Mberengwa yesterday.
Today, he is scheduled to stop at Sable Chemicals, Zimchem, Intrachem and Global Union Alloy, all located in Kwekwe.
This series of visits follow earlier tours to Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provinces last year.
In light of recent requests from mining companies for a reprieve on the export ban for raw lithium, VP Chiwenga emphasised that the ban would remain in place.
He urged companies to support this decision as it aimed for the greater good of the economy in the long run.
“The ban on the export of raw minerals is not meant to punish, but is a strategy to grow the economy through value addition,” he said.
VP Chiwenga expressed the Government’s commitment to building industries in resource-rich areas, ensuring that communities benefit and avoiding the negative impacts of mining, such as land degradation without economic benefit.
He insisted that all minerals extracted, including lithium, must be reported for the economy’s benefit. For lithium, the VP stressed the importance of upgrading raw ore to achieve a final product purity of over 99 percent, suitable for high-tech applications.
The Vice President noted that the purity requirements vary, with battery-grade lithium needing to be between 99,2 percent and 99,5 percent, and pharmaceutical-grade exceeding 99 percent to meet medical standards.
During his meetings with local and traditional leaders, VP Chiwenga highlighted the importance of corporate social responsibility.
Concerns raised at Sandawana Mine included the urgent need for road construction, local employment opportunities and the proposed relocation of communities for mining operations.
The VP actively facilitated discussions to ensure that community interests were addressed alongside the growth objectives of the mining sector.
Through these assessments, the Government aims to ensure that the exploitation of mineral resources translates into real benefits for local communities, ultimately driving sustainable development and economic growth across the nation.
“Mining companies have a social responsibility to invest in local communities, which includes healthcare, education, and infrastructure development,” said VP Chiwenga.
Bongani Ndlovu