Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
Once known primarily for its coal, Hwange District is rapidly transforming into the epicentre of Zimbabwe’s mineral beneficiation drive, attracting over US$720 million in modern mining investments and positioning itself as a hub for economic growth and structural transformation.
The shift aligns with the Government’s call for value addition and beneficiation of the country’s raw minerals. The policy, championed by the Second Republic, seeks to move Zimbabwe up the global value chain by processing minerals locally before export. This approach aims to retain more value, create skilled jobs, and stimulate industrial development.
Hwange has decisively taken the lead in answering this call. In an interview with Zimpapers, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Richard Moyo, revealed that the district is now home to a cluster of at least six key mining and processing projects, alongside two major projects in Binga, all focused on moving beyond mere extraction.
The investments are substantial and diverse.
“The colossal Kamativi Lithium Mine, a US$249 million project commissioned in April 2024, has already created over 1 200 jobs. Complementing this is the Dinson Coking Plant, a US$50 million venture that has created more than 1 100 new jobs, transforming raw coal into higher-value coking coal for industrial use,” said Minister Moyo.
Further cementing Hwange’s status in value addition is the US$400 million ZhongJin Heli Energy project, which includes a coke processing plant and a thermal power station. Similarly, the Zimbabwe Zhongxin Company’s coking operation, initiated in 2018, is already operational, with another project at 95 percent completion. These projects aim to increase export earnings and boost provincial GDP through local processing.
In neighbouring Binga District, the Muchesu Coal Mine (US$20 million) and the Bravura Kamativi Lithium Project are expected to create a combined 2,400 job opportunities for locals, spreading economic benefits across the province.
Hwange’s industrial boom is supported by strengthened infrastructure. The Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 Expansion, a US$1.5 billion project funded by a Chinese loan and commissioned in August 2023, ensures stable energy for these industries. Critical linkages, such as the newly commissioned Somgolo Bridge in Lupane, are improving access for communities and commerce.
Minister Moyo highlighted the strategic importance of these developments:
“These projects are not just about mining anymore. They are about building industries. We are seeing a clear move from exporting raw lithium and coal to processing them into concentrates, coke, and even energy right here. This is how you build a resilient economy – by capturing the value chain locally.”
The expected impacts are multifaceted, including thousands of direct and indirect jobs, massive investment in local infrastructure and services, increased government revenue, and a significant uplift in provincial and national GDP.
Hwange’s evolution from a mining town to an integrated industrial processing hub demonstrates the potential of mineral beneficiation, setting a benchmark for other mining regions in Zimbabwe.
Sidumisile Mabena