Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has praised President Mnangagwa’s leadership and policy direction for driving Zimbabwe’s shift from exporting raw minerals to value addition and beneficiation, saying the strategy is laying the foundation for accelerated industrialisation and sustainable economic transformation.
Speaking during official opening of the 29th Mine Entra Conference and Exhibition in Bulawayo on Friday, Minister Ndlovu said the growing collaboration between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development was critical in unlocking greater value from the country’s abundant mineral resources.
The symposium focused on strengthening local content and building stronger linkages between mining and manufacturing, in line with the Government’s drive to develop integrated value chains under Vision 2030.
Minister Ndlovu said the close cooperation between the two ministries was inspired by President Mnangagwa’s bold policy position that Zimbabwe must end the export of raw minerals and instead beneficiate and value-add its resources.
“I am pleased to note the strengthened and strategic partnership with the Minister of Mining and Mining and the Minister of Industry and Commerce in advancing the country’s economic transformation agenda.
“We owe this critical cooperation to the wise counsel and leadership of His Excellency the President Mnangagwa whose decisiveness in boldly declaring that as a country, we must, as a matter of agency stop the exploitation of raw materials to detain the poor people in our economy and move towards value addition and beneficiation.”
The Government has consistently maintained that value addition and beneficiation are central to achieving inclusive economic growth, creating jobs, expanding exports and retaining more wealth within the country.
Minister Ndlovu said increasing the value of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources would strengthen domestic industries while positioning the country higher in global value chains.
“Indeed, it is to be stressed, increasing and appreciating and evaluating our minerals is the pathway to maximizing value from our natural resources, deepening industrialization and creating competitive local industries.”
He said mining and manufacturing should not be viewed as independent sectors but as complementary industries capable of driving national industrial transformation.
“Mining and manufacturing are not separate sectors.
“They are two pillars of Zimbabwe’s industrial transformation agenda. Mining provides the minerals and strategic raw materials that form the foundation of industrial production, while manufacturing supplies the consumables, machinery, equipment, engineering solutions, technologies, and value addition,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said strengthening linkages between the two sectors would stimulate industrial growth, enhance local production capacities and reduce reliance on imported mining inputs.
“The relationship between these two sectors is therefore not transactional, but strategic, symbiotic, and transformational.
“Together, mining and manufacturing already account for a significant share of our economy. If we strengthen the linkages between the two and maximize domestic value addition, we will be able to create a new world of knowledge.
“We are going to be able to create a new world of knowledge and promote procurement of locally manufactured consumables, there is strong potential to double the combined contribution within five years.”
Minister Ndlovu said the Government remained committed to building an industrial ecosystem in which local manufacturers become key suppliers to the mining sector while mining acts as a catalyst for industrial expansion.
“Together we have committed to building an industrial ecosystem where manufacturing supports mining while mining drives industrial growth.
” Our objective is to ensure that mineral wealth becomes a foundation for manufacturing expansion, technology development, enterprise creation, employment generation and sustainable economic transformation.”
His remarks reinforce the Government’s strategy of leveraging Zimbabwe’s vast mineral endowment to stimulate downstream industries, expand local manufacturing capacity and create high-value jobs, while reducing dependence on raw mineral exports.
The strengthened partnership between the Industry and Commerce Ministry and the Mines and Mining Development Ministry is expected to play a pivotal role in deepening local content, promoting procurement of locally manufactured goods and accelerating Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda as the country advances towards Vision 2030.
