A new rush for Lithium in Africa risks fuelling corruption and failing citizens

Global Witness reports that the rush for lithium in Africa is characterized by corruption and ESG failures. In Zimbabwe, the Sandawana mine is linked to sanctioned elites and ZANU-PF allies, with reports of child labour and illegal exports. In Namibia, Xinfeng Investments is accused of bribery and using small-scale mining permits to avoid environmental assessments. In the DRC, the Manono project is stalled by ownership disputes and allegations that shell companies and politically connected individuals profited from the deposit while the state treasury received negligible funds.

• In Zimbabwe, the Sandawana mine has been linked to the ruling ZANU-PF party and military, including firms under US or EU sanctions. The mine's management involves the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), led by Henrietta Rushwaya, a niece of President Emmerson Mnangagwa who has been accused of money laundering. Despite a government ban on unprocessed lithium exports, the mine has reportedly trucked thousands of tonnes of ore to South Africa and Mozambique, ultimately destined for China.
• The Sandawana mine in Zimbabwe has been associated with severe human rights and safety issues. An estimated 5,000 artisanal miners initially flooded the site, where reports documented child labour, a lack of sanitation, and a mine collapse that killed one person and buried nine others. Furthermore, artisanal miners reported that their minerals were confiscated by Kuvimba Mining House and the prices they received for ore dropped by 75% after ZMF's involvement.

APA

Global Witness (2023). A new rush for Lithium in Africa risks fuelling corruption and failing citizens. https://globalwitness.org/documents/131/REPORT_A_new_rush_for_Lithium_in_Africa_risks_fuelling_corruption_and_failing__jcvXop4.pdf

Chicago

Global Witness. A new rush for Lithium in Africa risks fuelling corruption and failing citizens. 2023. https://globalwitness.org/documents/131/REPORT_A_new_rush_for_Lithium_in_Africa_risks_fuelling_corruption_and_failing__jcvXop4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=A new rush for Lithium in Africa risks fuelling corruption and failing citizens |date=November 2023 |url=https://globalwitness.org/documents/131/REPORT_A_new_rush_for_Lithium_in_Africa_risks_fuelling_corruption_and_failing__jcvXop4.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitness2023new, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{A new rush for Lithium in Africa risks fuelling corruption and failing citizens}}, institution = {Global Witness}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://globalwitness.org/documents/131/REPORT_A_new_rush_for_Lithium_in_Africa_risks_fuelling_corruption_and_failing__jcvXop4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }