VP Dr Chiwenga Tours Sandawana Mine, Orders Lithium Push for Rural Jobs

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga yesterday toured Sandawana Mine in Mberengwa District, directing management to accelerate lithium production and ensure local communities are first to benefit from employment opportunities at the sprawling concession.

The Vice President’s visit to the lithium operation, now managed by the Mutapa Investment Fund, was part of Government efforts to promote sustainable mining practices, value addition and improved productivity within Zimbabwe’s mining sector.

VP Chiwenga emphasised the importance of rural industrialisation as a key driver of development in rural communities. He urged mining companies to prioritise employment opportunities for people from surrounding communities in order to enhance local economic development in Mberengwa District.

Exploration work at the 3 882-hectare site has confirmed a resource base of approximately 100 million tonnes of lithium-bearing ore, representing only a fraction of the total concession area.

The VP Chiwenga directed management to pursue complete value addition up to the highest purity levels, aligning with Government’s policy to ban raw lithium concentrate exports.

Sandawana mine, historically renowned for producing high-quality emeralds since 1958, has transformed into a world-class lithium mining operation under the management of the Mutapa Investment Fund, Zimbabwe’s Sovereign Wealth Fund.

The Fund is aggressively expanding the asset following a comprehensive restructuring of Kuvimba Mining House, which previously managed the operation. The company has partnered with Chinese firms to construct a lithium concentrator plant, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027.

Recent explorations have revealed massive lithium-rich pegmatite veins, with the site also containing deposits of tantalite, gold and copper. The shift from emeralds to lithium forms part of a broader strategy to value through local processing under the National Development Strategy 2.

The Vice President’s tour included engagement with traditional leaders including Chief Ngungumbane and Chief Majibaza, underscoring Government’s commitment to ensuring local communities are direct beneficiaries of mining activity.