Govt tightens mines’ scrutiny

Oliver Kazunga

Senior Reporter

GOVERNMENT is establishing district mining monitoring committees countrywide to strengthen sector accountability and ensure mineral wealth translates into tangible socio-economic benefits for host communities.

The committees will track the impact of mining on employment, household incomes, infrastructure, environmental protection, water provision and community development, creating a direct accountability link between host communities and the State.

Anchored on the Second Republic’s Responsible Mining Initiative — launched by President Mnangagwa in 2023 — and the Second National Development Strategy (NDS2), the oversight structures aim to align resource extraction with Zimbabwe’s goal of attaining upper middle-income status by 2030.

In an interview, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura said district committees will report to provincial structures chaired by Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

“As His Excellency (President Mnangagwa) put it, responsible mining is an essential condition for operating in Zimbabwe.

“We will expand safety, health and environmental training for artisanal and small-scale miners, and establish district committees chaired by the Ministers of State, to monitor the impact of mining on our communities.

“His Excellency has reminded us that our minerals must be unearthed to transform and prosper our people, on our terms, leaving no one and no place behind.

“That is the standard against which our 2027 plan will be judged,” he said.

The initiative addresses growing concerns that rapid growth in mining investments and exports has not always yielded corresponding improvements in local living standards.

The committees will monitor compliance with community development pledges, environmental obligations, local employment targets, local procurement and resettlement agreements, complementing ongoing nationwide Responsible Mining Audits across both small- and large-scale operations.

However, Dr Kambamura did not disclose the committees’ composition, specific terms of reference or reporting frequency.

Mining remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing about 14,5 percent to Gross Domestic Product and over 76 percent of export earnings. Sector revenues have surged from approximately US$2 billion in 2017 to more than US$20 billion, helping drive overall economic growth of 8,3 percent last year.

Community expectations came under the spotlight last week when Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development toured Sandawana Lithium Mine in Mberengwa.

Local traditional leader Chief Mudavanhu said villagers wanted meaningful participation in the mining value chain rather than remaining mere spectators.

“We want our people to build their own economic future — we want to see our people participating in economic activities through agriculture, business enterprises, cooperatives and employment opportunities.

“Already, we have started seeing the benefits through employment and they have also promised us income-generating projects such as irrigation schemes and brick-making cooperatives,” Chief Mudavanhu said.

Sandawana Mines, a State-owned operation under Mutapa Energy Resources (MER), is advancing a US$330 million lithium concentrator plant alongside a proposed US$400 million lithium sulphate project — currently at the development and financing stage — to deepen local beneficiation.

During the Parliamentary tour, MER chief executive officer Mr Innocent Rukweza said the firm was rolling out livelihood projects for more than 18 000 villagers across four surrounding wards, including a US$150 000 brick-making machine, quarry sites for community cooperatives, cattle ranching and irrigated agriculture.

“We have a whole arsenal of things that we are planning, including income-generating projects.

“We want to form cooperatives around that, cattle farming, all those things,” said Mr Rukweza.

MER has also invested over US$65,3 million in supporting infrastructure, including a 52km service road linking York Business Centre to the mine, a 52km power line and a 16km water pipeline from Mundi River in Mataga.

Source: Govt tightens mines’ scrutiny – herald

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