Africa's resource strategy shifts from raw exports to value addition, facing diamond market downturn and embracing critical minerals
via NewsDay Zimbabwe15 min read
Botswana's economy contracted by 1% in 2025, prompting intensified efforts to diversify its mining sector beyond diamonds and target 3.1% GDP growth in 2026. The country, heavily reliant on diamond exports, faces challenges due to declining diamond sales and a structural downturn in the global diamond industry. The government, under President Duma Boko, is working to increase its stake in De Beers to over 50% to gain greater control over the diamond value chain, with potential financing from partners like the Oman sovereign wealth fund. However, the economic viability of such a deal is questioned due to significant write-downs by Anglo American, De Beers' majority owner. Across Africa, there is a growing trend towards resource nationalism and strategic industrial policy. Zimbabwe, for example, has banned the export of raw lithium concentrates to encourage local value addition and ensure full declaration of mineral compositions. This policy directly impacts Chinese battery manufacturers who rely on Zimbabwean lithium. Similarly, Botswana is exploring other critical minerals like copper and cobalt, and investing in renewable energy, technology, and agriculture, targeting 70% of unexplored territory for new mineral development. Economists emphasize the importance for African countries to strategically manage their resources, avoid desperation for investment that leads to loss of control, and ensure mineral wealth contributes meaningfully to their economies. They highlight the ne
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Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the country's largest mobile network operator, is investing more than US$200 million to expand its network capacity, improve service quality, and strengthen infrastructure resilience. This investment addresses the surging demand for mobile data driven by increased smartphone adoption, video streaming, and digital services. Econet Group chief executive officer Douglas Mboweni stated that the company's immediate priorities include expanding network capacity and making infrastructure more resilient to ensure reliable connectivity. The company operates over 7,000 base stations supporting 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies and is progressively reallocating spectrum to 4G and 5G services. However, the transition is slowed by older mobile devices, particularly in rural areas, preventing millions of subscribers from accessing modern digital services. Mboweni noted that over three million subscribers use handsets too old for high-bandwidth applications and that Econet is working on initiatives to make new smartphones more affordable. Power supply challenges also contribute to network disruptions, prompting Econet to invest in alternative energy, including a solar power station at its Tech City campus and an artificial intelligence-powered energy management system. The company expects this system to reduce power-related faults by up to 50% by the end of the year, with customers experiencing a more resilient network with fewer outages by December.
Zimbabwean athletes Makanakaishe Charamba, Thandazani Ndlovu, and Ashley Miller achieved impressive results at the Gyulai Istv谩n Memorial鈥揌ungarian Athletics Grand Prix in Budapest. Charamba secured second place in the men鈥檚 200 metres with a time of 20.09 seconds, finishing behind Morocco鈥檚 Yassine Hssine. Ndlovu recorded a personal best of 44.64 seconds, placing fourth in the men鈥檚 400 metres against a competitive international field. Miller finished fifth in the women鈥檚 400 metres hurdles with a time of 55.03 seconds. The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe NAAZ president, Tendayi Tagara, stated that these performances will boost the team's confidence for the rest of the season, highlighting the progress made through investment in athlete development and high-performance programs. NAAZ emphasized that the results demonstrate Zimbabwean athletes' capability to compete effectively on the international stage.
Must ReadThe 15th Africa Border Day was held at Lake Kariba, where leaders highlighted the role of borders as facilitators for development. This event took place amidst various other news items, including reports on Zimbabweans' journeys home, a teenage sex trade in Mutare, and police sealing off NCA offices. Other headlines covered rising confidence in ZMX trades, a potential bridge through Scottland FC's SA trip, and challenges in Zimbabwe's hospitality sector facing a US$30 million funding gap ahead of IATF 2029. Additionally, there were reports on political tensions leading to violence, power outages affecting ART operations, and Zimbabwe commissioning a specialized honey testing laboratory to enhance export competitiveness.