MUTAPA Energy Resources (MER) chief executive officer Innocent Rukweza has been appointed chairman of the Lithium Association of Zimbabwe (LAZ), a development that comes as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a major player in the global battery minerals industry.
He takes over from Xuedong Gong, managing director of Bikita Minerals.
In a congratulatory message on Tuesday, the board, management and staff of MER described the appointment as a significant achievement and expressed confidence in Rukweza's leadership.
"We are proud of this remarkable achievement and wish you every success in your new role as you lead and advance the growth of Zimbabwe's lithium industry," the company said.
The LAZ represents stakeholders in one of the country's fastest-growing mining sectors. Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa's largest lithium deposits and has attracted substantial investment in recent years as global demand for minerals used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems continues to rise.
Rukweza takes up the position at a time when the government is pushing for increased beneficiation and value addition in the lithium sector to maximise economic returns from the country's mineral resources.
MER is part of Mutapa Investment Fund, the country's sovereign wealth fund.
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