Nyashadzashe Ndoro
ZIM NOW REPORTER
Zimbabwe’s policy of mineral beneficiation, which aims to add value to raw materials before export, came under question in Parliament.
Zanu PF legislator, Lilian Zemura raised concerns about granite exports still occurring in their unprocessed form. She highlighted that this comes two years after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a ban on exporting raw minerals.
“There are about two or three years when our President ... said that minerals are no longer being mined and exported in raw form without beneficiation,” Zemura said, highlighting trucks carrying unprocessed granite on the Macheke-Mutare road.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Amon Murwira, responded by stating the government’s commitment to beneficiation.
He pointed to the successful implementation of the policy for lithium, a critical mineral for battery production.
“Your question is in line with the issue of beneficiation so that they can be used here in Zimbabwe and not leave us here with open pits. This is the policy which was talked about by the President, and we are following it especially when he talked two years ago when he was referring to lithium. There is no lithium which is going out raw.
“It can be referring to other minerals, but what is known is that there is no policy that our minerals should go as ore. They should be exported after beneficiation, but this was in line with minerals which are known like when it comes to granite. We have granite companies, but if there are special circumstances, they should be known and investigated so that we would be able to clearly say how this precious stone was taken as ore,” the Minister said.
The government has implemented various measures to promote beneficiation, including:
In December 2022, the government banned the export of unprocessed lithium, a major step towards forcing companies to establish processing facilities within the country. Similar bans have been placed on other minerals like chrome.
The government offers tax breaks and other incentives to companies that invest in beneficiation plants.
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