Assessment of Factors Affecting Competitive Mineral Beneficiation in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Prospects

Zimbabwe possesses abundant mineral resources, which could propel the country's economic growth if they are properly beneficiated to produce value-added products. However, the country has failed to leverage its mineral endowment to drive sustainable socioeconomic transformation. This study aimed to evaluate the viability of mineral beneficiation in Zimbabwe's mining sector by analysing the factors that affect its competitiveness and identifying strategic interventions to improve the industry's competitiveness. The study employed Michael Porter's Diamond Model of industry competitiveness to analyse the mining industry's competitiveness in Zimbabwe and to assess the model's applicability in the country's context. The study findings reveal that Zimbabwe's mining sector is not currently competitive and does not facilitate mineral beneficiation. Additionally, the study finds that the Porter Diamond Model is not entirely relevant to the Zimbabwean context because it is primarily applicable to developed nations. The study recommends strategic interventions that could transform Zimbabwe's comparative advantage in the mining sector into a competitive advantage.