A traditional leader in the Great Dyke has thrown his weight behind the establishment of a large-scale lithium processing plant at Sandawana Mine in Mberengwa, saying the development will transform the district’s economic prospects and improve livelihoods.
The plant, which awaits final government approval, is set to employ close to 2,000 people during its construction phase — a significant boost for communities in and around the mine who have long awaited tangible economic benefits from the lithium rush.
Speaking during a community engagement meeting, Senator Chief Ngungumbane welcomed the project and urged the company to prioritise locals when recruitment begins.
The chief said the plant offers hope for accelerated development in Mberengwa, adding that building it on-site would also reduce pressure on the country’s roads.
He noted that transporting raw lithium ore across long distances for processing had contributed to extensive damage to major highways, and establishing a local processing facility would help curb further deterioration.
If approved, the project is expected to mark a major turning point for the district, improving both employment opportunities and overall economic activity.
Kuvimba Mining House, which owns Sandawana Mine, says construction is expected to begin in the next four to six months. The company is currently finalising feasibility studies and preliminary engineering designs that will shape the layout of the plant and its support infrastructure.
Addressing residents, Kuvimba CEO Trevor Barnard confirmed that the project is scheduled to break ground in early 2026, signalling the start of major civil works such as site preparation, foundation construction, water and power installations, as well as the upgrading of access roads to support movement of equipment and future lithium exports.
Barnard said procurement planning has already begun, particularly for long-lead items — large, specialised pieces of processing machinery sourced internationally — which may take up to six months to be delivered.
He said securing these components early is critical to preventing delays once construction begins. The recent recovery in global lithium prices has also bolstered the project’s financial viability, accelerating the momentum toward a commissioning window between the first and second quarter of 2027.
“We have the right people and the right partners to implement this project and get it into operation as quickly as possible,” Barnard said.
Sandawana Mine General Manager, Godwin Gambiza, also shared encouraging production figures, reporting that by October the mine had produced 88,000 metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate — slightly below the year-to-date target of 91,000 tonnes but still within strong performance margins.
Gambiza said all key efficiencies, including concentrate grade, lithium recovery and yield, have been trending above budget. He attributed the strong performance to the quality of Sandawana’s ore, which he described as “arguably the best within Zimbabwe,” as well as the competence of technical teams on the ground.
He noted that these results have been achieved using a third-party processing plant not specifically designed for Sandawana ore, further underscoring the mine’s potential once it has its own dedicated facility.
Kuvimba says developing an in-house processing plant will significantly improve efficiency, cut operating costs, and increase value addition within Zimbabwe’s fast-growing lithium industry — a sector expected to become one of the top foreign currency earners in coming years.
If the plant secures approval, Mberengwa could soon become a major lithium processing hub, with thousands of jobs, enhanced infrastructure, and expanded economic opportunities for surrounding communities.
