Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has approved an immediate and indefinite ban on the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrates, effective February 26, 2026, in a decisive move to accelerate domestic value addition.
Speaking after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the measure was introduced in the national interest, aimed at strengthening local processing and curbing industry practices that undermined earlier Government directives.
The Government had initially scheduled a ban on lithium concentrate exports for January 2027. However, authorities reversed course after observing what the minister described as malpractices within the sector. According to him, producers responded to the earlier notice by ramping up output and export volumes, alongside a surge in applications for lithium export permits.
“After the notice on the intended ban, the industry responded otherwise by increasing its level of production and also increasing export volumes. There was also an increased appetite for lithium export permits, and the rationale behind it was to export as much product as possible before the notice period,” he said.
He added: “So we had to come in with this intervention of banning the export of lithium concentrates and also any raw minerals or minerals that are not value-added with effect from Feb. 26, 2026.”
The prohibition will remain in force until government expectations are met. Zimbabwe has attracted substantial investment in its lithium sector in recent years, driven by rising global demand for the mineral, a key component in the global energy transition.