Last November Africa's second-biggest copper producer became the first country on the continent to default on its sovereign debt during the pandemic.

Some of the biggest mining companies are expanding into or eying commodities tied to the green revolution.

The world's largest diamond producer will build up its cooperation with state-controlled diamond company Bakwanga, known as MIBA.

Guinea is China's biggest supplier of bauxite.

More than $1.5-billion of gold is smuggled out of Zimbabwe every year, much of it to Dubai.

Hichilema also designated Francis Chipimo to act as central bank governor.

Despite China's steel output controls to curb carbon emissions, Sinosteel Futures said domestic demand has not significantly dropped.