The recent 9th SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) and Exhibition, held in Durban South Africa, highlighted a key initiative promoting responsible mineral extraction. It is promoting responsible mining and sustainable industrialisation across the six SADC countries. “We need to ensure that the benefits that result from responsible mining and processing of critical energy transition minerals trickle down to the entire mining value chain.” The empowerment of artisanal and small-scale miners in responsible mining value chains is a key recommendation in the United Nations Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. What is needed is to prioritise industrialization through investing in infrastructure and skills, transforming agricultural value chains, and beneficiating critical energy transition minerals at source.