- Treasury Ready to Unveil Incentives for Local Manufacturers Serving Mining Sector, President Mnangagwa
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has announced that Treasury is ready to unveil the necessary incentives to support local manufacturers supplying the mining sector, as the Second Republic moves decisively to end the country’s reliance on imported goods and build a value-added mining economy, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga at the official opening of the 29th edition of the Mine Entra Conference and Exhibition in Bulawayo, the President said the Government would incentivise investments that guarantee self-sustenance for local manufacturers of the sector’s basic needs.
“Ministers of Industry and Commerce recently highlighted to me how a notable chunk of the total manufactured imports service the mining sector. I therefore challenge stakeholders to deliver increased support to investments that guarantee self-sustenance to local manufacturers of the basic needs of the sector. On this part, Treasury is ready to unveil the necessary incentives,” President Mnangagwa said.
Local Procurement Push
The President’s announcement comes as the Government intensifies efforts to strengthen linkages between the mining and manufacturing sectors, with Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu revealing that only 15% of the mining industry’s approximately US$3.4 billion annual procurement is sourced locally.
The new incentives are expected to complement broader policy measures being implemented to encourage mining companies to procure locally manufactured goods, including conveyors, cables, steel structures, and safety equipment.
‘Days of Raw Mineral Exports Are Over’
President Mnangagwa delivered a firm declaration that Zimbabwe will no longer tolerate the export of unprocessed minerals, warning that the era of raw ore shipments leaving the country’s borders is over.
“Zimbabwe is acclaimed for high deposits of critical minerals and for a long time was a renowned source of raw minerals for other global industries, whilst our own became stagnant and antiquated. We have said, ‘Not any more,'” the President said.
“The days where consignments leave our borders, declared simply as ‘ore’ or ‘concentrates’, meanwhile containing valuable and rare earth minerals, are over. My Government is wide awake,” he added.
Lithium Sulphate by January 2027
President Mnangagwa reiterated that by January 2027, Zimbabwe expects to export only lithium sulphate rather than raw lithium concentrates, with transitional quota arrangements in place to enable companies to complete beneficiation plants without disrupting production.
He hailed a milestone achievement after Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe exported Africa’s first locally produced lithium sulphate in April 2026 and challenged developers of lithium processing plants at Bikita, Kamativi, and Sandawana Mines to expedite construction.
Self-Reliance and Economic Sovereignty
Addressing the rapidly changing global economic landscape, the President said developing countries could no longer depend on traditional international financial institutions and must increasingly rely on their own skills, capabilities, and natural resources.
“As developing countries, we must increasingly rely and depend on ourselves, our own skills, capabilities and, indeed, natural resources,” the President said.
He reminded mining companies that they are custodians of resources belonging to all Zimbabweans and have a responsibility to ensure the country’s mineral wealth translates into local development and economic sovereignty.
No Tolerance for Corruption
The President also warned that corrupt public sector officials and mining companies involved in bribery or environmental violations would face stern action.
“Corrupt public sector officials and inspectors who turn a blind eye to breaches of our laws in return for bribes will be sternly dealt with, along with the entities that offer the inducements,” he said.
