MINES and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura has declared that Zimbabwe’s future competitiveness in the global mining industry will depend increasingly on the intelligent application of technology rather than on mineral abundance alone, making deeper cooperation with China essential, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the Zimbabwe-China Investment Symposium in Harare on Thursday, the Minister outlined a vision that goes beyond traditional mining models, emphasising that artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, digital twins, predictive maintenance and real-time operational analytics are redefining what it means to be globally competitive.
“Zimbabwe is determined to be part of this transformation,” Minister Kambamura said.
“For this reason, Government seeks to deepen cooperation with China in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, advanced mineral processing, digital mining technologies, research, innovation and technical skills development.”
A Partnership of Complementary Strengths
Minister Kambamura noted that China’s remarkable achievements in advanced manufacturing, battery technologies, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and industrial automation provide significant opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.
“At the same time, Zimbabwe possesses many of the critical minerals upon which these technologies depend. Our comparative advantage lies not only in the abundance of these resources but also in our determination to process, beneficiate and integrate them into modern industrial value chains,” he said.
This combination of Zimbabwe’s mineral endowment and China’s technological capabilities, the Minister stated, presents an exceptional opportunity to build a partnership that serves not only the two countries but also the broader African continent and the global economy.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding, who also addressed the symposium, confirmed that Zimbabwe and China enjoy complementary economies, with Zimbabwe offering abundant mineral and agricultural resources while China provides technology, capital and access to a vast consumer market.
Global Challenges Require Technological Solutions
Minister Kambamura observed that around the world, new mineral discoveries are becoming increasingly scarce. Ore grades are declining. Mines are becoming deeper, more technically complex and more capital-intensive. Sustainability expectations are becoming more demanding. Supply chains are being reshaped by geopolitical developments, while rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation and advanced manufacturing are transforming the economics of mining itself.
At the same time, new technologies—including synthetic and laboratory-grown materials in certain mineral markets, such as diamonds—are beginning to reshape patterns of global demand.
“These developments present both challenges and opportunities,” the Minister said. “They require countries such as Zimbabwe to move decisively beyond traditional mining models and embrace innovation, scientific research, technological excellence and strategic international partnerships.”
It is precisely for this reason, Minister Kambamura stressed, that Zimbabwe sees enormous value in strengthening cooperation with China.
“China’s global leadership in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, automation, mineral processing and industrial innovation complements Zimbabwe’s extraordinary endowment of strategic mineral resources.”
Technology Transfer Already Underway
Ambassador Zhou revealed that cumulative Chinese investment in Zimbabwe had reached about US$10 billion, spanning mining, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, digital infrastructure and other sectors. Bilateral trade reached a record US$4.4 billion in 2025, up 15.2 percent year-on-year, with Zimbabwe recording a trade surplus of US$740 million.
The Ambassador confirmed that Chinese investment has created nearly one million local jobs and generated significant tax revenues.
In a significant development, Chinese mining firm Hubei JCHX Mining Services Corporation has expressed willingness to partner with mining learning institutions in countries where it operates to enhance skills development and build local expertise.
Chinese-manufactured mining technology has also been revolutionary for artisanal and small-scale miners. The advent of affordable hammer mills and ball mills has dramatically improved gold recovery rates from approximately 25 percent to about 35 percent. Today, over 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s national gold deliveries are contributed by artisanal and small-scale miners—a direct testament to the democratisation of mining technology fuelled by Chinese innovation.
AI and Digital Transformation
Zimbabwe recently launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030), positioning AI as a driver of modernisation, industrialisation and inclusive development. The strategy focuses on developing local AI talent, improving productivity in key sectors such as agriculture and mining, and building a digitally empowered society.
Ambassador Zhou welcomed this development, stating that China stands ready to support Zimbabwe in advancing digital transformation and the upgrading of key industries. Discussions between the two countries have focused on emerging areas of cooperation, including digital technology and artificial intelligence, with both sides expected to explore practical ways of deploying AI technologies and building local capacity.
Minister Kambamura noted that AI is already revolutionising mineral exploration by improving the accuracy of geological interpretation and resource targeting. Chinese firms dominate Zimbabwe’s lithium sector and are well-positioned to bring proprietary software and optimisation expertise to the country’s mining operations.
Chinese companies are also showcasing technologies including crushers, magnetic concentration, automatic control systems and conveyors at major trade events such as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
Advanced Mineral Processing: From Ore to Finished Products
Minister Kambamura emphasised that new technologies are reshaping patterns of global demand, requiring countries like Zimbabwe to move decisively beyond traditional mining models.
This is precisely what is happening through Chinese investment in mineral beneficiation. The Dinson Iron and Steel Plant in Manhize, operated by China’s Tsingshan Group, is producing 600,000 tonnes of steel products annually, ranging from pig iron and billets to rebars. The plant is fitted with the latest technology to produce highly competitive products, with production eventually expected to reach 1.2 million tonnes annually.
In the lithium sector, Chinese companies have invested more than US$2 billion since 2021. Sinomine’s Bikita Minerals has built a lithium sulphate plant valued at approximately US$500 million. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, in partnership with China’s Huayou Cobalt, has developed Africa’s first lithium sulphate plant at the Arcadia Mine, with capacity expected to exceed 50,000 metric tonnes annually.
In April 2026, Zimbabwe exported Africa’s first shipment of lithium sulphate—a higher-value battery material used in electric vehicles—marking a significant milestone in the country’s value-addition agenda.
As Professor Zhang Yongpeng has noted, China possesses advanced technologies required to process critical minerals such as lithium into higher-value products, creating significant opportunities for Chinese companies to invest in Zimbabwe by establishing processing plants, refineries and manufacturing facilities.
Infrastructure and Policy Stability
Ambassador Zhou identified infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in electricity, transport, water and digital connectivity, as major constraints to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive. He noted significant business opportunities in transport corridors, railway rehabilitation, renewable energy, industrial parks, logistics hubs and digital infrastructure to support Zimbabwe’s industrialisation.
On mineral beneficiation, the Ambassador said China fully supports Zimbabwe’s ambition to add value to its mineral resources but cautioned that the process should be implemented gradually, requiring a realistic, phased approach that considers infrastructure limitations, technical capacity, market conditions and global competition while leveraging Chinese investment and technology.
The envoy also stressed the importance of a predictable and transparent policy environment, warning that abrupt changes to mining, industrial or tax policies could undermine investor confidence. He welcomed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to maintaining a stable business environment and praised government ministries for consulting investors before introducing new regulations.
Skills Development and Capacity Building
Minister Kambamura stressed the importance of research, innovation and technical skills development. This is being addressed through multiple initiatives.
In May 2026, eight Zimbabwean polytechnic colleges signed a tripartite cooperation agreement with China’s Ningbo Polytechnic University and Huayou Cobalt. The agreement includes the joint establishment of the Sino-Zimbabwe Engineering Technology Academy and the China-Zimbabwe Silk Road Teacher Capacity Building Centre. Students will be trained on the latest technology and processes aligned with real industry standards, gaining qualifications recognised in both Zimbabwe and China.
Northeastern University (NEU) in China has also established a preliminary cooperation foundation with Midlands State University, with plans to explore practical collaboration through student exchanges and joint scientific research in mining and metallurgy. NEU has remarkable disciplinary strengths in mining, metallurgy, artificial intelligence, control science and engineering.
Chinese mining firms have also invested more than US$100 million in corporate social responsibility programmes across Zimbabwe, supporting schools, health facilities, vocational training and community development initiatives.
Looking Ahead
Minister Kambamura concluded that, working together, Zimbabwe and China are well-positioned not merely to respond to global change but to help shape the future of mining itself.
Zimbabwe’s comparative advantage, he said, lies not only in the abundance of its resources but also in its determination to process, beneficiate and integrate them into modern industrial value chains.
The future of Zimbabwe’s mining sector lies not in exporting raw materials but in building a technologically advanced, skills-rich industry that creates sustainable employment and drives inclusive national development. Through its partnership with China, Zimbabwe is taking decisive steps toward that future.
“China’s global leadership in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, automation, mineral processing and industrial innovation complements Zimbabwe’s extraordinary endowment of strategic mineral resources,” Minister Kambamura said.
“Working together, our two countries are well positioned not merely to respond to global change but to help shape the future of mining itself.”
