The mining industry is set to undergo a profound transformation that will see all inputs, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), manufactured locally as the Government intensifies its value addition and beneficiation drive in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Mines and Mining Development Minister, Hon Winston Chitando, has said.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the 2025 Mine Entra Conference, Minister Chitando outlined a future where the mining sector is fully integrated, driving local manufacturing and ensuring that the nation reaps maximum benefits from its mineral resources.
“The future of mining is where we have to take orders and follow the rules and principles of responsible mining,” Minister Chitando said. “Mining in a responsible manner also involves responsible sourcing. The whole idea is to have integration, downstream and upstream — to have inputs in the mining sector manufactured locally, and to have products from the mining sector being value-added locally.”
In a powerful directive that underscores this shift, the Minister questioned the continued importation of basic mining gear, stating, “There is no need to import PPE. Is PPE being showcased in here?” This statement signals the Government’s firm expectation that the mining industry’s procurement should stimulate domestic production and create local value.
The Minister’s vision aligns with the central pillars of NDS1, which prioritises value addition and beneficiation to structurally transform the economy. He reported significant progress, highlighting that the mining industry “is growing virtually in all the various sectors,” with the drive for qualification and beneficiation gaining momentum.
“More importantly, the drive for value addition and beneficiation is beginning to have, among others, various initiatives in the lithium sector, where by early next year, we will have the production of lithium sulphate,” he announced.
This milestone in the lithium value chain represents a key achievement of the Government’s policy to move beyond the mere extraction and export of raw minerals. The establishment of a “five-mile industrial park in Mhangura” was also cited as one of the initiatives underpinning the sector’s growth.
Minister Chitando explained that this new era of responsible and integrated mining is being codified into law. He revealed that the second phase of the formalisation initiative will soon close, introducing new regulations to ensure sustainable practices.
“Phase 1 of the responsible mining initiative emphasised the need to follow the laws. Phase 2 will close very soon. It will go beyond the laws and introduce new regulations, but also ensure that everybody mines in a responsible manner,” he said.
The Minister concluded by emphasising that responsible behaviour from all stakeholders is non-negotiable for the future of the sector. “The future of mining, I will repeat — which is my last comment — will be for all players and all stakeholders in the mining sector to behave responsibly,” he said.
The address firmly positions the mining sector as a key driver of national development, moving beyond extraction to build a sustainable, integrated, and locally empowered industry in fulfilment of the Government’s economic blueprint.
