the importance of infrastructure investment in southern Africa to support the region’s mineral exports and production. It emphasizes the need for substantial infrastructure expenditures, particularly in transportation and processing facilities, to fully exploit the potential of lucrative minerals and avoid the resource curse.
The South African government is taking proactive steps to improve the country’s railway system to overcome infrastructure constraints in the mining industry. Initiatives include implementing the National Rail Policy and appointing a new Infrastructure Manager for the rail network.
The Lobito Corridor project is also highlighted as a crucial export route, connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia’s copperbelt to international markets via Angola’s seaport of Lobito, which is expected to boost economic growth in all three countries.
Namibia and Zimbabwe have adopted a strategic approach to address their mining infrastructure challenges. Both countries implemented bans on illicit artisanal mining and unprocessed mineral exports, aiming to encourage private sector investment in developing in-country processing facilities. As a result, Zimbabwe has seen two lithium processing plants commence production.
Furthermore, the upcoming Critical Minerals Africa summit, taking place in Cape Town, will bring together governments and business leaders to explore solutions for logistical and infrastructure challenges in the continent’s mineral industry.
Please note that some sections of the article may be outdated or fictional, as the current date is mentioned as August 1, 2023, while my knowledge is only up to September 2021.
