REMAP Africa: HRH Mthembu Unveils Doctrine To Transform Africa’s Mining Landscape Through Technology, Collaboration
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – The Minister of Mining & Blue Economy, Alkebulan Hieratic Government and Director of Blue Sovereignty & Traditional Ocean Governance in the Blue Council Africa of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), HRH Nosipho Mthembu, has declared an end to Africa’s era of raw mineral exportation.
She made the declaration in a powerful, historic keynote address at the just-concluded Africa Mining Convention 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, where she unveiled a new continental doctrine tagged REMAP AFRICA – Remapping Africa for Africa.
Addressing the President of the Africa Investment Leaders Forum, Excellencies, captains of industry and delegates from across the continent, HRH Mthembu noted that the convention was beyond a celebration of awards, but a celebration of the people who power Africa’s future.
“It is a profound honour to stand on the soil of Zimbabwe, a land blessed by God with every mineral the world needs. Mining is not just about gold and platinum; it is about people, partnership and prosperity for Africa,” she said.
The Lie of the Old Map
HRH Mthembu lamented that Africa has operated for too long on a map deliberately designed against it, citing the distortion of the Mercator projection and the fragmentation of Africa’s resource corridors by the 1884 Berlin partition.
“Africa holds 30% of the world’s mineral reserves – 70% of global cobalt, 90% of platinum, 60% of manganese and bauxite, and the largest lithium reserves on earth. Yet we produce less than 5% of the world’s refined minerals. We export $90 billion of raw minerals and import $270 billion of finished products made from our own minerals. We export jobs, wealth and our future because we were operating on their map. That era is over,” she declared.
What is REMAP AFRICA?
According to HRH Mthembu, REMAP AFRICA is now the official doctrine of her Ministry: R – Reclaim Sovereignty: Minerals are sovereign heritage. No more 3% royalty contracts. A new Alkebulan Mining Code proposing minimum 40% state ownership and 30% in-country beneficiation. E – Embrace Technology: Deployment of AI, blockchain, drones and satellites. M – Merge Mining & Blue Economy: Linking mines in Kolwezi to ports in Durban, Lobito and Beira as one integrated value chain.
A – African Collaboration: One African Mineral Market, one African shipping line, one African battery factory. P – People First: Placing women and youth at the centre of mining transformation.
Technology as a Game Changer
HRH Mthembu outlined four key technologies that will drive the transformation: HAYAH GEO-SAT: An African-owned mineral mapping satellite constellation to give African communities sovereign data over their own resources by 2027. Blockchain for Royalty: End-to-end traceability from pit to port to curb corruption and illicit financial flows, building on Zimbabwe’s gold tokenization model. AI and Green Mining: AI-powered solar grids to cut energy costs by 60% and deliver low-carbon lithium and platinum for global green markets. Deep Refinement Technology: Establishment of the first Africa Battery Precursor Plant in the SADC region within the Zimbabwe-South Africa-DRC Lithium Triangle.
Three Historic Collaborations
To translate technology into collective continental power, she proposed three landmark collaborations from the Zimbabwe podium: One: Africa Mineral Exchange (AME): To be headquartered in Victoria Falls, where Africa will set the price for African minerals. Two: SADC Lithium to Battery Corridor: “Mine in Bikita, Refine in Gwanda, Battery in Durban, Ship from Maputo” – a value chain designed to retain 300% more value inside Africa.
Three: Women in Mining & Blue Economy Alliance: Mandatory 30% women ownership for mining licenses and formation of a Pan-African Women in Mining Cooperative.
She further called on African Heads of State to harmonize mining legislation into One African Mining Code to strengthen Africa’s collective bargaining power.
Why Zimbabwe, Why Now?
“Zimbabwe is the proof of REMAP. You were sanctioned, you were isolated, yet you hold the second largest platinum reserves and the largest lithium reserves in Africa. If Zimbabwe can beneficiate here, all of Africa can. You are not landlocked, you are mineral-locked, and you are about to unlock Africa,” she stated.
Closing with a royal declaration, HRH Mthembu charged delegates to sign the REMAP Declaration as the outcome document of the convention.
“We will Reclaim. We will Refine. We will Remap. For our mothers who carried stones, for our fathers who died in shafts, for our children who must not repeat that pain. One People, One Planet, One Destiny!”
Her address was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation.
