Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched a $1.8 billion expansion program for the Zimplats smelter and a new 35-megawatt solar plant on Wednesday in Ngezi. The projects are set to significantly boost Zimbabwe's industrial capacity, energy independence, and environmental sustainability efforts.

Footage from the event showed President Mnangagwa addressing a crowd and touring the sites of the new developments. He hailed the initiatives as "a remarkable milestone in Zimbabwe's quest for industrial advancement, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability."

Mnangagwa lauded Zimplats, the nation's largest platinum miner, as a "strategic partner" in the country's development agenda. "Projects of this nature are an example of what we can achieve through unity and collaboration," he stated, highlighting key benefits such as job creation, increased fiscal contributions, and a crucial shift toward clean energy.

The president also underscored Zimbabwe's position as a holder of some of the world's largest platinum reserves, emphasizing the critical need for beneficiation and responsible mining practices. He stressed that communities in mining areas must directly benefit from these operations.

The ceremony also featured remarks from several high-ranking officials, including Minister of State Marian Chombo and Mining Minister Winston Chitando.

The smelter expansion project, completed in December 2024 at a cost of $360 million, is designed to triple the mine's production capacity. According to Viory, these ambitious projects are the result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed two years ago between Zimplats and the Zimbabwean government, outlining a 10-year expansion program from 2021 to 2031.