Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged full support for the mining sector as the country moves towards the attainment of a 12 billion mining sector by 2023.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of the agreement for the development of the Arcadia Lithium Project between Prospect Resources and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, President Mnangagwa said, “Rest assured that you have my Government’s full support to facilitate the unlocking of maximum value from this strategic mineral resource, win win benefits.  Let us move forward with speed and make this venture a great success.  With unity of purpose, we will prosper together and build a Zimbabwe we all want.”

President Mnangagwa applauded the partnership between the two companies.

“We are therefore enthused by the emergency of companies such as Prospect Resources and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.  Their focus on lithium mining and value chain industries will see this key mining subsector immensely contributing to the realisation of development which leaves no one and no place behind.  It is my expectation that investment of this nature will equally help lift many of our people out of poverty and into prosperity,” said Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa further promised that his Government will implement comprehensive reforms to enhance the country’s competitiveness in all sectors.

Lithium has numerous uses that constitute critical parts of various value chain industries to include portable electronics; glass and ceramics; energy storage and the manufacturing of electric vehicles among others.