Lithium Sector Leads Big Increase in Chinese Investment into Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa (wearing scarf) shaking hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2020. Image: Jekesai Njikizana / AFP

Licenses issued by the Zimbabwean government could lead to $2.79 billion in Chinese investment flowing into the country. The funding will mostly go to the mining and energy sector.

Zimbabwe has one of the largest deposits of lithium in the world and recently banned the export of raw ore. This has forced some of the mostly Chinese companies operating there to invest in refining facilities, as well as in power infrastructure to run them.

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by Cobus van Staden

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