The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has recently issued Statutory Instrument 5 of 2023 proscribing the export of unbeneficiated base minerals.

In a gazetted Statutory Instrument (S.I) 5 of 2023 titled Base Minerals Export Control (Unbeneficiated Base Mineral Ores) Order, 2023 the mining authority has effectively outlawed the export of raw or unprocessed base minerals. The SI reads,

No unbeneficiated base mineral ores shall be exported from Zimbabwe to another country except under written permit of the Minister.

Base minerals are the likes of lithium, nickel, chromium, manganese, tantalite, and they do not include precious metals, precious stones, mineral oils and natural gases.

The ban however comes with an exception from the Minister of Mines and the exception states that any party wishing to export samples of unbeneficiated base mineral ores for evaluating or examining outside Zimbabwe can do so upon written application after producing satisfactory proof to the Minister that there are extra-ordinary circumstances justifying the exportation of samples requested.

Moreover, any further contravention of this law warrants penalties under section 6 of the principle MMA act as further stipulated in the SI below:

“…any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any order or with the terms and conditions of any permit issued to him or her under an order shall be guilty of an offence and liable to—

• a fine not exceeding level 9 or twice the value of the base minerals in respect of which the offence is committed, whichever is the greater; or
•  Imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years; or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” further read parts of the SI.

The decision by the Mining Authority is in line with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy in a bid to bring economic value to local mineral extraction and production through beneficiation of the raw resource. This new law comes in as lithium has widespread demand across the globe and recently discovered amongst Zimbabwe’s base minerals.

For more information on mining law related matters, you may get in touch with our Mining Law Practice Group on info@mmmlawfirm.co.zw