The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) said it is deeply alarmed by the continued plunder of Zimbabwe’s lithium resources under the guise of development.
The organization said while they acknowledge the government’s announcement to ban raw lithium exports by 2027, they believe it is a step in the right direction but has taken too long.
They said given the current rate of extraction,reportedly 3,000 tons per day, the country risks exporting the people’s future before any real benefits are felt by the nation or communities bearing the burden of mining.
‘The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) is deeply concerned about the ongoing exploitation of Zimbabwe’s lithium resources, which undermines national economic sovereignty and community well-being. We acknowledge the statement made by the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Winston Chitando, regarding an upcoming ban on lithium ore exports and the transition toward producing value-added lithium sulphate,’they said.
The organization said, Minister Chitando addressing a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, said that from January 2027, exporting lithium concentrates will be prohibited.
CNRG said Zimbabwe cabinet also reaffirmed the ban on the export of chrome ores and stressed the need to develop the ferrochrome industry locally.
They said as CNRG, they view the urgent reform as being delayed into irrelevance.
They have stressed that the ban should be with immediate effect to prevent further natural capital depletion from unchecked lithium exploitation, which has devastating socio-economic and environmental implications.
CNRG said Zimbabwe's lithium wealth risks being squandered, as unchecked exports, weak regulation and opaque deals undermine its potential for industrial transformation.
They said already, allegations of lithium smuggling across porous borders into South Africa and Mozambique raise concerns regarding corruption and illicit mineral and financial flows.
CNRG said unverified reports indicate that up to 3,000 tons of lithium ore leave the country daily, a staggering 1.62 million tons over the past 18 months, with minimal accountability, benefit to the state or protection for affected communities
They said they acknowledge that processing and refining lithium into concentrates before exporting will retain the value of mineral wealth, boost tax revenue and encourage new local businesses and add jobs.
‘However, this timeline is too little, too late. The stated January 2027 target for full implementation of value addition and beneficiation for lithium is not acceptable,”CNRG said.
The organization said the urgency for reforms is also denoted by the absence of robust beneficiation policy implementation, contradictory to the spirit of the African Mining Vision (AMV) and Zimbabwe’s own Minerals Value Addition and Beneficiation Policy Framework.
They said a responsible state must be decisive and not allow its finite mineral wealth to be extracted and exported for a song, and so little public oversight.
CNRG said developing a comprehensive Critical Minerals Policy or Strategy can facilitate Zimbabwe's leveraging of the lithium boom and energy transition, while promoting responsible sourcing standards that prioritize environmental, social and governance considerations.
They said Chinese investors' monopoly in Zimbabwe's lithium sector highlights the challenge of attracting investment to process and refine lithium into high-value products.
They said the dependence on Sino investments overlooks concerns around poor governance, including labor rights abuses, environmental degradation and unfair community displacement.
CNRG said that this has led to an alarming social and ecological cost.
They said communities located near mining operations,especially in Goromonzi, Buhera, Mutoko, and Bikita have been transformed into sacrifice zones.
They said residents in the areas face water depletion, environmental degradation, displacement and increased social conflict, often without proper consultation or compensation.
They said women and children bear the brunt of the impacts, facing heightened vulnerability to violence, exploitation and economic displacement.
CNRG said it affirms that mining should not come at the expense of human rights, environmental justice or local livelihoods.
CNRG has called on the Government of Zimbabwe to impose a moratorium on lithium concentrate exports and conduct an audit of mining operations to ensure
compliance with environmental, social and tax regulations and to accelerate the enforcement of value addition and beneficiation policies.
They said 2027 is too distant, given the pace of extraction and the price volatility of lithium on the global market.
They have also called upon on the finalization of amendment to the Mines and Minerals Act to provide a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework, ensuring transparency and accountability in the country’s mineral resource sector,protection of communities by enforcing human rights due diligence, fair compensation and meaningful consultation in all mining areas.
CNRG said lithium should not become another lost opportunity and Zimbabwe must assert control over its critical minerals, ensure just transitions for its communities and align its natural resource governance with the aspirations of its citizens, not the short-term interests of foreign buyers and elite networks.
