Mthembu Unveils ‘REMAP Africa’ Doctrine to End Raw Mineral Exports, Drive Local Refining
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe — Africa must end its dependence on raw mineral exports and embrace technology-driven mining, local refining and cross-border collaboration to retain greater economic value from its natural resources, HRH Nosipho Mthembu has declared.
Mthembu, Minister of Mining and Blue Economy in the Alkebulan Hieratic Government and Director of Blue Sovereignty and Traditional Ocean Governance at the Blue Council Africa of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), made the declaration while delivering a keynote address at the Africa Mining Convention 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
She used the occasion to unveil REMAP AFRICA — Remapping Africa for Africa, a continental mining transformation doctrine aimed at strengthening resource sovereignty, accelerating mineral beneficiation and positioning African countries to play leading roles in global mineral value chains.
Addressing the President of the Africa Investment Leaders Forum, government representatives, industry leaders and delegates from across the continent, Mthembu said Africa’s mining future must be built around its people, strategic partnerships and economic prosperity rather than the continued export of unprocessed resources.
“It is a profound honour to stand on the soil of Zimbabwe, a land blessed by God with every mineral the world needs. Mining is not just about gold and platinum; it is about people, partnership and prosperity for Africa,” she said.
Challenging Africa’s Mineral Trade Imbalance
Mthembu argued that Africa’s position in the global mining industry reflects a structural imbalance in which the continent supplies essential minerals but captures only a fraction of the value generated from processing and manufacturing finished products.
She attributed the situation partly to historical arrangements that fragmented Africa’s resource corridors and weakened its ability to negotiate collectively in international markets.
According to her, Africa possesses approximately 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves, including significant shares of global cobalt, platinum, manganese and bauxite resources, alongside substantial lithium deposits.
However, she lamented that the continent produces less than five per cent of the world’s refined minerals, while exporting raw materials worth an estimated $90 billion and importing $270 billion in finished products manufactured from those resources.
“We export jobs, wealth and our future because we were operating on their map. That era is over,” she declared.
She maintained that Africa must move beyond supplying raw materials to become a major centre for mineral processing, advanced manufacturing and technology-driven industrial development.
Five Pillars of REMAP AFRICA
Mthembu outlined five pillars underpinning the REMAP AFRICA doctrine, which she described as the official framework of her ministry.
The first, Reclaim Sovereignty, calls for African countries to exercise greater control over their mineral resources through stronger ownership arrangements, improved royalty frameworks and increased domestic beneficiation.
Under the proposed Alkebulan Mining Code, she advocated minimum state ownership of 40 per cent and in-country beneficiation of 30 per cent, alongside an end to what she described as inadequate three per cent royalty arrangements.
The second pillar, Embrace Technology, focuses on deploying artificial intelligence, blockchain, drones and satellite systems to improve mineral exploration, transparency and operational efficiency.
The third, Merge Mining and Blue Economy, seeks to connect mining operations with maritime infrastructure and shipping networks, integrating production centres such as Kolwezi with ports in Durban, Lobito and Beira.
The fourth pillar, African Collaboration, proposes a common African mineral market, a continental shipping line and an African battery manufacturing industry to strengthen cooperation and reduce dependence on external processing and distribution networks.
The fifth, People First, places women and young people at the centre of mining-sector transformation, with emphasis on ownership, participation and access to emerging opportunities.
Satellite Mapping, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
Highlighting the role of technology in implementing the doctrine, Mthembu proposed four major initiatives designed to improve Africa’s control over mineral data, revenues and processing capacity.
The first is HAYAH GEO-SAT, a proposed African-owned constellation of mineral-mapping satellites intended to provide African communities with greater sovereignty over geological information about their resources. The initiative is targeted for deployment by 2027.
She also advocated the use of blockchain technology to track minerals from extraction sites to ports, improve royalty accountability and curb corruption and illicit financial flows.
Referencing Zimbabwe’s gold-tokenisation model, she argued that transparent digital tracking systems could strengthen confidence in mineral transactions and improve revenue collection.
On artificial intelligence and green mining, Mthembu proposed AI-powered solar energy systems to reduce mining energy costs by as much as 60 per cent and support the production of lower-carbon lithium and platinum for international markets.
Her fourth proposal involves advanced mineral-processing technology and the establishment of what she described as the first battery precursor plant in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, within a proposed Zimbabwe-South Africa-Democratic Republic of Congo lithium corridor.
Three Proposed Continental Partnerships
To translate the REMAP AFRICA doctrine into practical economic cooperation, Mthembu proposed three landmark initiatives.
The first is an Africa Mineral Exchange (AME), proposed to be headquartered in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to strengthen Africa’s influence over mineral pricing and trading.
The second is a SADC Lithium-to-Battery Corridor, linking mineral extraction, refining, battery production and shipping across Southern Africa.
Describing the proposed value chain, she said: “Mine in Bikita, Refine in Gwanda, Battery in Durban, Ship from Maputo.”
According to her, the initiative is designed to retain substantially more economic value within Africa by connecting resource extraction to processing and manufacturing.
The third proposal is a Women in Mining and Blue Economy Alliance, which would promote greater female participation in the sector, including a proposed 30 per cent women-ownership requirement for mining licences and the establishment of a Pan-African Women in Mining Cooperative.
Mthembu also called on African heads of state to harmonise their mining laws under a proposed One African Mining Code, arguing that a common regulatory framework would strengthen the continent’s collective bargaining power in negotiations with international investors.
Why Zimbabwe Matters
Explaining her choice of Zimbabwe as the platform for the declaration, Mthembu described the country as an important example of Africa’s potential to turn mineral wealth into industrial capacity despite economic and geopolitical challenges.
“Zimbabwe is the proof of REMAP. You were sanctioned, you were isolated, yet you hold the second largest platinum reserves and the largest lithium reserves in Africa. If Zimbabwe can beneficiate here, all of Africa can,” she said.
She added that the country’s mineral endowment could become a catalyst for broader regional industrialisation if supported by investments in refining, manufacturing, infrastructure and technology.
“You are not landlocked, you are mineral-locked, and you are about to unlock Africa,” she declared.
Calls for a REMAP Declaration
In her closing remarks, Mthembu urged convention delegates to sign the proposed REMAP Declaration as the outcome document of the gathering, signalling their commitment to a new approach to African mineral development.
She stressed that the transformation of the mining sector should not be measured solely by production figures or export earnings, but also by its impact on workers, host communities, women, young people and future generations.
“We will Reclaim. We will Refine. We will Remap. For our mothers who carried stones, for our fathers who died in shafts, for our children who must not repeat that pain. One People, One Planet, One Destiny!” she said.
Her address reportedly received a prolonged standing ovation from delegates at the convention.
The REMAP AFRICA doctrine, as presented in the address, places mineral sovereignty, technological innovation, regional integration and local value addition at the centre of a proposed new direction for Africa’s mining industry.
