Zimbabwe’s policy of banning raw lithium exports to incentivize domestic value addition is receiving positive feedback from global investors and policymakers, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said.
The comments were made at the World Economic Forum, signaling a push to legitimize the controversial trade restriction in the eyes of international capital markets.
The government’s strategy seeks to transform the country’s mining sector from a raw-ore exporter into a processor of battery-grade materials.
This structural shift is designed to capture more value within Zimbabwe’s borders, aligning with broader trends in the global supply chain for electric vehicle components.
The announcement follows recent operational milestones, including Zimbabwe’s first shipments of lithium sulphate.
These exports mark a tangible step toward the government’s goal of processing minerals locally rather than shipping unrefined ore abroad.