Zimbabwe and Malawi have banned exports of raw minerals in a move aimed at forcing local processing and capturing more value from critical resources. Zimbabwe halted shipments of lithium concentrates and other unprocessed minerals with immediate effect, while Malawi banned raw exports and suspended new mining licenses. Leaders say the policies will curb export leakages and strengthen state bargaining power in future mining deals. The decisions arrive as global demand for critical minerals rises during the clean energy transition. In today’s Breakdown, Sandra Babu-Boateng examines what triggered the policy shift, the risks facing both economies, and whether other mineral powers such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Zambia could follow.