Zimbabwe is positioning itself to become a global powerhouse in the green energy revolution, with the ruling party unveiling an ambitious vision to attract battery and electric vehicle manufacturers to the country, ZANU-PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa has revealed.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Mutsvangwa outlined a strategic shift that could see Zimbabwe move from being a mere supplier of raw lithium to a critical node in the global battery value chain—processing minerals all the way to lithium-ion batteries that power the world’s electric vehicles.
“We have an industry which actually shakes the global market. If Zimbabwe says something about lithium, the global markets will explode,” Mutsvangwa declared, pointing to the recent suspension of raw mineral exports, which sent shockwaves through international lithium markets.
A Magnet for Global Giants
Mutsvangwa revealed that Zimbabwe has successfully attracted four out of the world’s top six lithium companies, cementing the country’s status as a critical player in the transition minerals sector.
“It’s also an effort that has invited four out of probably six of the top lithium companies in the world to come to Zimbabwe,” he said.
This concentration of industry leaders positions Zimbabwe uniquely among African nations, not just as a source of raw material, but as a destination for industrial investment.
Protecting Investors Who Commit Locally
In a nuanced analysis of the sector’s dynamics, Mutsvangwa addressed a critical challenge: ensuring that companies which have invested in Zimbabwean processing facilities are not undercut by competitors who would rather process the country’s lithium elsewhere.
“We need to make sure that those companies which have established plants in Zimbabwe are not outcompeted by their peers who will be getting Zimbabwean lithium and processing it elsewhere, at the expense of those investors who are already in the country with their money,” he explained.
This approach reveals a sophisticated industrial strategy: using Zimbabwe’s resource endowment to create a level playing field that rewards investors who commit to local processing, while discouraging those who would prefer to extract raw material and ship it out.
“We are doing our best to make sure that they become more profitable by undercutting their competition with refineries in China instead of refineries in Zimbabwe,” Mutsvangwa said. “This is what we are doing.”
Completing the Value Chain
The ruling party spokesperson outlined a vision that extends far beyond concentrate processing to the full spectrum of battery manufacturing.
“We believe that we will find a way between Zimbabwe and China to develop a healthy path for the processing of lithium all the way to lithium-ion batteries. These are the batteries which power sports cars. Lithium is inside. This is the same battery which powers electric vehicles around the world,” he said.
Mutsvangwa highlighted Zimbabwe’s extraordinary endowment of transition minerals beyond lithium, including copper, nickel, manganese, and graphite, all essential components in battery manufacturing.
“When I was looking at the proximity of all the minerals which are called transition minerals—lithium, copper, nickel, manganese, graphite—that group of minerals is now at the heart of the competition between Europe and China, and between America, China, and Europe.”
Zimbabwe’s Growing Processing Capacity
The ruling party spokesperson pointed to rapidly expanding domestic processing capacity, with multiple plants coming online across the country.
“Very soon, plants in Goromonzi, in Gwanda, and in Kamativi. There’s also Sandawana itself. Another plant is coming up. In fact, it’s a lithium sulphate plant. But there are also the tailings from Kamativi. There is also a need for a lithium processing plant there.”
This proliferation of processing facilities creates opportunities for small-scale miners and local enterprises.
“These young SMEs will be supplying plants in Zimbabwe. Very soon, plants in Sabi Star, in Sandawana, and in Kamativi.”
A Vision for African Industrialisation
Mutsvangwa placed Zimbabwe’s beneficiation drive within the broader context of Africa’s awakening to the value of its mineral wealth.
“President Mnangagwa is actually a leader in terms of the beneficiation of these minerals for the benefit of Africa. We have become conscious about our role on the global stage, the footprint of Africa in these transition minerals.”
He noted that the global mobility revolution—from electric vehicles to e-mobility solutions like motorbikes and tricycles—presents an unprecedented opportunity for Zimbabwe.
“The industry is taking over. Even at the level of mobility—mobiles, motorbikes, tricycles—they are all moving towards mobility powered by electricity and batteries. So Zimbabwe is well-positioned to take advantage of this sector to drive prosperity by ensuring that batteries are not just imported but manufactured within Zimbabwe.”
Engaging Global Powers
Mutsvangwa revealed that Zimbabwe is now engaging in resource diplomacy with major powers, including the United States, recognising that transition minerals have become central to global economic competition.
“It is now engaging in diplomacy with America. For the first time, we realise the importance of our mineral endowment because we have become conscious about our role on the global stage.”
The Path Forward: Scale and Partnership
Acknowledging the capital-intensive nature of battery manufacturing, Mutsvangwa called for continued partnership with major investors while creating opportunities for local participation.
“It’s a capital-heavy industry. You need to invest at a big scale. Remember, you are a manufacturer with global standards. So the best way is for Zimbabwe to grow together, to entice big investors so that our lithium industry can become bigger than what it is right now. In the process, we don’t need to export raw lithium. These young SMEs will be supplying plants in Zimbabwe.
