Sandawana Mine is a well-known emerald mine located in the Sandawana Valley in Mberengwa, Zimbabwe. It is one of the few mines in the world that produces high-quality emeralds. Historically, the mine is known for gemstone mining. However, recently it has started mining lithium. Lithium is known to occur along several gemstones.
Kuvimba Mining House (KMH), which is 65% owned by the Zimbabwe government, took over the asset in 2019 and has so far invested US$56 million to make it one of the biggest lithium producers in the world. The mine is rich in vast mineral resources that include tantalite, copper and gold.
According to the locals in Chegato and Chengechuru villages who spoke to CNRG researchers in Mberengwa, lithium has always been found but its value or name was unknown. Mining is not new to the villagers in Mberengwa.
What is new however is the intensity and the increase in traffic around the mining area. In 2018, one Edias Sibanda is known to be the person who first came across lithium, he had a mining license for tantalite and as he was mining tantalite, he discovered a whitish stone which he learned later was lithium. He took it to MMCZ who expressed ignorance of the mineral and its value.
However, word of the new finding of the whitish stone spread, sparking the interest of foreigners alleged to be from South Africa, and illicit mining of the whitish stone began. It is said that MMCZ and the Ministry of Mines had no knowledge of this. In 2020 Sandawana took interest in the mineral and started the mining. They then joined ventures with Kuvimba Mining House. According to an article by the Chronicle published on 28 July 2023, lithium open pit mining began in January this year and 600 000 tonnes worth $216 million have been mined to date.
It is projected that $700 million worth of lithium will be mined in the next 18months. There is also illegal mining going on the sidelines. The security is bribed to allow people to mine, and a tonne is being sold for $100-$120.