Mnangagwa pushes mineral beneficiation across Africa as he takes over COMESA chairmanship
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, assuming the chairmanship of COMESA, pledged to champion mineral beneficiation, value addition, and industrialization across the regional bloc. He advocated for African countries to process their raw materials locally to create jobs, boost development, and improve livelihoods, citing Zimbabwe's positive experience with such policies.
Why it matters
This initiative, if widely adopted, could fundamentally shift economic dynamics in Eastern and Southern Africa, moving away from raw material exports towards industrial self-sufficiency, potentially fostering significant regional economic growth and job creation.
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to push value addition, mineral beneficiation and industrialisation across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) during Zimbabwe’s chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Mnangagwa said African countries must move away from exporting raw materials and instead process their natural resources locally to create jobs, boost industrial development and improve livelihoods.
Addressing the COMESA summit in Harare on Thursday after accepting the chairmanship, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would prioritise initiatives aimed at strengthening regional value chains and expanding economic opportunities.
He said Zimbabwe’s experience with policies requiring local processing of resources had demonstrated the economic benefits of beneficiation.
“Undoubtedly, the God-given natural resources of Africa are important to spur development and the realisation of sustainable prosperity.
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