West waging economic war on Africa:ED

MOREBLESSING MARANGE

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed deep disquiet over what he describes as a growing threat posed by Western nations to Africa’s industrial and economic sovereignty.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with editors from both public and private media, the President warned that foreign powers are drafting laws on critical minerals with Africa’s resources in mind, a move he says undermines national sovereignty and economic independence.

Mnangagwa’s remarks come amid growing concerns that global superpowers are maneuvering to control Africa’s vast mineral wealth, particularly resources crucial to emerging technologies and renewable energy.

He cautioned that unless African nations take decisive action, they risk becoming mere suppliers of raw materials while Western economies reap the benefits of value addition and industrial growth.

President Mnangagwa did not mince his words, condemning what he described as the West’s increasing encroachment on Africa’s economic planning.

“Only a few days ago, I made new appointments within our Government, including a portfolio I never thought I would need to consider just a few years back. This decision was necessitated by the shifting global landscape,” Mnangagwa said.

“Big nations now believe they have the prerogative to plan their economies with our resources at the centre. It is as if national boundaries have been collapsed to serve their interests. We are seeing emerging laws on critical minerals, drafted in foreign capitals but designed with Africa’s wealth in mind. This is a new and dangerous threat we must confront.”

Mnangagwa’s concerns are not unfounded. The global demand for critical minerals—such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements—has surged due to their role in powering electric vehicles, high-tech manufacturing, and renewable energy. Zimbabwe, with its vast reserves of lithium and other key minerals, has become a focal point in the scramble for resources.

Western governments have been pushing for stricter supply chain regulations, ostensibly to ensure ethical sourcing. However, critics argue that these policies are thinly veiled attempts to control mineral supply chains and dictate the terms of trade in a way that disadvantages African producers.

President Mnangagwa stressed that the  Government of Zimbabwe is eager to work closely with industry professionals to navigate these global economic headwinds. He called on business leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to provide strategic insights that will help safeguard national interests.

“We need to hear from industry professionals who are on the frontlines of these changes. Your insights are critical in shaping policies that will ensure we not only survive but thrive amid these external pressures,” he stated.

Zimbabwe has been pushing for local beneficiation and value addition as a strategy to retain more economic benefits from its natural resources. However, this approach has faced resistance from Western entities that prefer raw materials to be exported for processing elsewhere, ensuring continued dominance over global supply chains.

President Mnangagwa’s comments suggest that the government is prepared to take a firmer stance on resource nationalism, ensuring that Zimbabwe’s minerals serve as a foundation for local industrialization rather than a source of wealth for foreign economies.

President Mnangagwa’s warnings about Western interference serve as a stark reminder that Zimbabwe and other African nations must remain vigilant in protecting their economic sovereignty. The global race for strategic minerals is intensifying, and failure to assert control over these resources could see Africa once again relegated to a role of economic subservience.

Zimbabwe’s push for resource nationalism, value addition, and stronger industry-government collaboration represents a bold step toward economic independence. However, achieving these goals will require resilience, strategic policymaking, and a firm stance against external pressures seeking to exploit Africa’s wealth.

As the geopolitical battle for Africa’s resources escalates, Zimbabwe must take decisive action to ensure its policies serve its people—not foreign agendas.