Zimbabwe has emerged as one of Africa's leading lithium producers, with export earnings from the mineral doubling to $178.64 million in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, driven largely by Chinese-backed mining projects and a government ban on exports of unprocessed minerals. The country's push to add value domestically gained a milestone in April when Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe — owned by Chinese battery minerals giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt — exported its first batch of lithium sulphate from a new $400 million processing facility near Harare. However, resource governance experts and community advocates warn that the financial gains have yet to reach the populations living closest to the mines, with reports of damaged roads, limited local employment, unmet infrastructure pledges, and weak regulatory oversight persisting around major operations such as Bikita Minerals and Sabi Star.