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The document examines Zimbabwe's position as Africa's largest holder of lithium reserves amidst a global surge in demand for critical raw materials for electric vehicle batteries. It argues that while lithium mining offers a path to upper-middle-income status by 2030, the country faces significant risks from corruption, resource leakage, and a lack of industrial capacity for local beneficiation. The paper highlights the dominance of Chinese investment and the challenges of artisanal mining conflicts. It recommends strengthening tax regimes, mandating technology transfer, and pursuing regional collaboration to move beyond the export of unprocessed ores.

A 2011 survey of 300 rural households in Zimbabwe's Seke and Murewa districts found that water shortages, attributed to reduced rainfall, are a significant concern. While most households rely on rainfall for crops and rivers for livestock, there is a general perception that water availability will decrease in the future, a view more prevalent among female-headed households. Despite these challenges, few respondents consider emigration, and many lack the means to address water shortages, indicating a need for sustainable water management training.