HARARE – Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube says the Government will maintain its January 2027 deadline requiring lithium producers to beneficiate their minerals locally, despite calls from mining companies for more time to complete processing plants.

Employees at Richmark Zimbabwe, a Chinese-owned contractor working for Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ), have raised concerns over alleged health and safety violations at the company's mining operations, claiming workers are being exposed to hazardous conditions while operating defective equipment.