Sandawana Mine Reports Improved Community Relations, Strong Production and Major CSR Investments

By Delicious Mathuthu

Mberengwa, Zimbabwe - Sandawana Mines General Manager Godwin Gambiza has said relations between local communities and Chinese nationals working at the lithium mine have improved following the introduction of a cultural exchange programme earlier this year.

“Relations between locals, who include low-level employees, villagers, chiefs, and Chinese nationals have been on a positive trajectory since the launch of the inaugural Culture Exchange Day, held on the 27th of March 2025 at the mine,” Gambiza told stakeholders recently.

The initiative was launched in response to earlier adverse reports of tensions.

“This followed previous adverse reports, prompting a launch of the Culture Day to keep such violations in check.

"Consequently, we are reaping the fruits of such timely interventions, as the mine has not recorded a single grievance case since the launch,” he said.

Gambiza announced that the event would become an annual fixture.

“The event will become a regular feature of our annual CSR activities, and will grow bigger and better to include wellness and sporting programmes in various disciplines.”

On the operational front, the General Ganager reported near-budget production despite using a third-party processing facility not originally designed for Sandawana ore.

“Spodumene concentrate production this year up to October, through trough processing in Gwanda, Lithium, Zimbabwe, is close to budget at 88,000 metric tons against a budget of 91,000 metric tons,” he said.

“All key efficiencies, such as the concentrate grade, the lithium recovery, and yield, have been trending above budget.”

Gambiza attributed the strong performance to the quality of the deposit.

“This is also testament to the high quality of spodumene ore that Sandawana hosts, and arguably the best quality within Zimbabwe,” he added.

“Suffice to say, this high performance across all key indicators has been achieved through a third-party owned plant that was not even designed with Sandawana ore in mind.”

The company has also invested heavily in community development in 2025, spending approximately $475,000 on corporate social responsibility projects.

A major portion has gone toward upgrading the 60-kilometre gravel road linking the mine to the main Beitbridge highway.

“The road works have been in progress for the past three months with dedicated road equipment… with close to $400,000 having been spent to date,” Gambiza said.

The project is now almost 75 percent complete, he said.

Other initiatives include the drilling of three 100-metre deep solar-powered boreholes, the full renovation of a storm-damaged classroom block at Chebvute Secondary School ahead of the rainy season and end-of-year examinations, and ongoing support to local road maintenance authority, the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA).

“We will continue to work with Chebvute on the remaining works, such as painting of the school, replacement of doors and door frames to comply with safety standards and ease of emergency exits, water provision, tiling, among others,” the General Manager said.

Sandawana is also mobilising equipment for a 53-kilometre road section from Yorks to Sandawana in line with commitments made at a September stakeholder meeting.

In a final appeal, Gambiza urged vigilance against misinformation.

“Last but not least, I urge you all to guard against malicious social media reports that seek to derail the social cohesion we enjoy and achievements made to date," he said.