Will Zimbabwe’s lithium strategy help it break into the value-adding game?

Zimbabwe is attempting to move beyond exporting raw ore by processing lithium. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, recently exported the continent's first consignment of lithium sulphate from its Arcadia mine near Harare. This development follows Zimbabwe's decision to bring forward its ban on raw mineral exports to February of this year. The government's objective is to curb smuggling and ensure the country benefits more from its mineral resources. This strategy aims to break the long-standing cycle of simply digging and shipping ore in Zimbabwe's mining sector.