A Zimbabwean rights activist posted pictures of huge piles of lithium bags ready for China, asking if his country is actually the biggest donor to Beijing. Farai Maguwu, who runs the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, showed minerals staged for export from Kamativi in Matabeleland North. He argued the nation needs leaders with actual vision and patriotism to stop foreign companies from stripping resources under the label of investment.
Maguwu pointedly asked how a country failing to fix basic roads or provide clean water can just give away its minerals. He listed several lithium mining sites like Prospect and Sabi Star, calling them all a donation to China. This comes despite a government plan announced earlier to ban exporting raw lithium concentrates by 2027, a rule meant to push local processing and keep more value inside Zimbabwe.
The finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, recently warned businesspeople to watch their comments about Chinese firms, saying singling out a nationality can start xenophobia. He told them to be more respectful, arguing that Chinese investors operate legally and go into tough business areas that locals sometimes avoid. The minister stressed that if there is a problem with them being in sectors reserved for locals, that is one thing, but otherwise, they should be welcomed.
Maguwu pointedly asked how a country failing to fix basic roads or provide clean water can just give away its minerals. He listed several lithium mining sites like Prospect and Sabi Star, calling them all a donation to China. This comes despite a government plan announced earlier to ban exporting raw lithium concentrates by 2027, a rule meant to push local processing and keep more value inside Zimbabwe.
The finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, recently warned businesspeople to watch their comments about Chinese firms, saying singling out a nationality can start xenophobia. He told them to be more respectful, arguing that Chinese investors operate legally and go into tough business areas that locals sometimes avoid. The minister stressed that if there is a problem with them being in sectors reserved for locals, that is one thing, but otherwise, they should be welcomed.
