Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura announced on Wednesday that the suspension would take effect immediately and remain in effect until further notice.
“The government expects cooperation from the mining industry in this measure, which has been taken in the national interest,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that authorities remain committed to “ensuring transparency, value addition and profit in the country, compliance and responsibility in the export of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.”
The abrupt move accelerates previous plans to curb lithium concentrate exports. Harare had previously set January 2027 as a deadline for banning such shipments, aiming to push miners to set up local processing and refining capacity. Wednesday’s announcement effectively advances that timeline.
In a letter dated February 17 to the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines seen by ReutersThe ministry said it would rearrange export processes due to concerns over “continued malpractices during mineral exports.”
The letter describes the review as “part of a broader effort to combat leaks and improve efficiency within our systems.”
Kambamura told reporters in Harare that the ban would only be lifted if miners complied with government demands. He said Zimbabwe “will engage the industry in the near future on new expectations and the way forward.”
Zimbabwe has quickly become a major supplier of lithium concentrate to China, where the material is refined into battery-quality products used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
The country exported 1.128 million tons of lithium-containing spodumene concentrate at the end of 2025, an increase of 11 percent from the previous year. It also has Africa’s largest lithium reserves and is among the top global producers, with an estimated 126 million tonnes of raw materials, according to official data.
Much of the sector’s recent growth has been driven by Chinese investment, with companies investing billions of dollars in developing Zimbabwean mines.
Lithium, along with rare earths and other strategic materials, has been given strategic priority due to its role in battery production, electronics, sustainable energy systems and defense technologies.
According to World Bank data, mining is the second largest contributor to Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product after manufacturing, accounting for 14.3 percent of output.
However, the immediate suspension introduces uncertainty for producers and exporters who had prepared for a phased transition.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, have no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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