Zimbabwe has imposed an immediate ban on the export of all raw minerals and lithium concentrate, in a surprise move that signals a tougher push for local processing and tighter control of its mineral wealth.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Polite Kambamura, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines and Mining Development, said the suspension takes effect immediately and applies to all minerals, including those already in transit.
“Government expects cooperation of the mining industry on this measure, which has been taken in the national interest,” the ministry said. It added that authorities remain committed to transparency, local value addition, compliance and accountability in the export of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.
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The decision accelerates an earlier plan to stop exports of lithium concentrate from January 2027. That deadline was intended to give mining companies time to build local processing plants and refine lithium inside the country. The new order removes that grace period.
In a letter dated February 17 and addressed to the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, the ministry said it was reviewing export procedures because of concerns about continued malpractices during mineral exports. The review, it said, is part of a broader effort to curb leakages and improve efficiency in the system.
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Zimbabwe holds the largest lithium reserves in Africa and has become a key supplier to global battery makers. Official figures show the country exported 1.128 million metric tonnes of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate in the year to December 2025, an increase of 11 percent from the previous year. Most of the material is shipped to China for further processing into battery-grade products.
The government has long argued that exporting raw materials denies the country the full benefits of its natural resources. Lithium is central to the global shift towards electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Securing access to lithium and other strategic minerals has become a priority for major economies because of their use in smartphones, green energy systems, and military equipment.
Mining is Zimbabwe’s second-largest contributor to gross domestic product after manufacturing. According to World Bank data, the sector accounts for 14.3 percent of national output.
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In recent years, Zimbabwe has expanded its lithium production sharply, driven largely by Chinese investment. Companies operating in the country include Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine Resource Group, Chengxin Lithium Group and Yahua Group.
Huayou recently built a 400 million dollar plant in Zimbabwe to process lithium concentrate into lithium sulphate, an intermediate product that can be refined into battery grade lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate. Sinomine has announced plans to invest 500 million dollars in a lithium sulphate plant at its Bikita mine.
Kambamura said the government will engage industry players soon on new expectations and the way forward. For now, miners face an abrupt halt to exports that could reshape contracts, cash flow and investment plans, as Harare seeks to keep more value from its mineral boom at home.
