Zimbabwe: Lithium Mining Environmental Impacts Raise Concerns

• Newly discovered lithium deposits near Njeza Mountain in Zimbabwe's Mutare district have caused anxiety among local farmers due to secrecy and fears of land and water loss.
• The Sabi Star Mine in Buhera district faces allegations of drinking water contamination from chemical disposal and severe dust pollution impacting six villages, five schools, and causing health issues.
• A Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife received oral evidence from community groups, including the Buhera Residents Network Trust, detailing these environmental and health concerns.
• Chinese companies, many with ties to President Mnangagwa's administration, have acquired much of Zimbabwe's lithium sector amidst a shrinking civic space and intimidation of those challenging powerful interests.
• Despite community concerns about pollution and displacement, the Buhera Residents Network Trust leader stated that residents are not opposed to mining in principle.

The documented lack of transparent consultation and alleged environmental non-compliance in Zimbabwe's burgeoning lithium sector raises significant concerns for local communities and international stakeholders alike.

New lithium deposits discovered at the base of Njeza Mountain in Zimbabwe's Mutare district have transformed a once tranquil, small-scale farming area into a focal point for the nation's escalating mineral extraction efforts. Despite more than a year passing since local residents became aware of the project, details remain largely undisclosed, fostering persistent anxiety among farmers in the surrounding villages. Kwadzanai Nicholas Mukundidza, a local farmer, voiced concerns over the absence of consultation and widespread fear, attributing these sentiments to the perceived connections between such projects and influential figures within Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF party. Farmers, many of whom were resettled in the region during the initial phase of Zimbabwe's post-independence land reform in the early 1980s, harbor significant apprehension regarding potential losses of their land, pastures, rivers, and water sources.

This apprehension is rooted in past experiences, as similar mining ventures across Zimbabwe have led to the displacement of communities, contamination of water and air, and disruption of traditional livelihoods. As global demand for lithium intensifies to support the clean energy transition, Zimbabwe has emerged as a prominent supplier in Africa, attracting billions of dollars in foreign investment. A substantial portion of the country's lithium sector has been acquired by Chinese companies, many of which are reported to have close affiliations with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration.

The Sabi Star Mine's lithium project in Zimbabwe's Buhera district exemplifies the profound impact on local populations. James Mupfumi, director of the investigative non-governmental organization Centre for Research and Development, has reported that drinking water in the vicinity of the mine has been contaminated by chemical disposal. These concerns were brought before Zimbabwe's Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife during a fact-finding mission on July 12, where community-based organizations, including the Buhera Residents Network Trust, provided oral testimonies from affected villagers detailing issues of dust and water pollution and associated health problems.

Recent information from community leaders in Tagarira, Buhera, indicates that residents are experiencing stomach-related ailments attributed to contaminated water, with the Tagarira community identified as the most severely affected. The daily passage of at least 120 30-ton trucks transporting lithium from Sabi Star to Beira, destined for either Beira or Durban ports, contributes significantly to environmental degradation. Six villages situated along the 30-kilometer (18-mile) dusty route from Tagarira to Gaza in Buhera are particularly impacted. These villages collectively host five schools, and an average of five to seven pupils daily seek medical treatment for various illnesses stemming from dust pollution. Efforts by the mining company to mitigate dust, which also arises from blasting and crushing operations affecting villages like Tagarira and Mukwasi, have been minimal, with dust quickly resettling after any attempts at cleaning.

Despite President Mnangagwa's pledges of sweeping sociopolitical and economic reforms following his ascent to power in a 2017 military coup that ousted long-time leader Robert Mugabe, the space for civic engagement continues to diminish. Activists, journalists, and community and political leaders frequently face intimidation and arrests when they challenge powerful political or commercial interests. This prevailing climate of fear has significant environmental repercussions, particularly within communities affected by lithium mining operations.

The documented lack of transparent consultation and alleged environmental non-compliance in Zimbabwe's burgeoning lithium sector raises significant concerns for local communities and international stakeholders alike.

The Buhera Residents Network Trust, an organization dedicated to representing the interests of local people, formally presented oral evidence to the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife. Their testimony highlighted a range of critical issues, including environmental pollution, water insecurity, worker injuries, community displacement, and concerns regarding the overall mining operations at Sabi Star Mine.

Leonard Mabasa, the leader of the Trust, conveyed to legislators that the community's concerns were not an outright opposition to mining activities themselves, but rather focused on the adverse impacts and lack of proper procedures associated with the current operations.

Lawyers advising foreign investors or companies sourcing from Zimbabwe's lithium sector should note the significant ESG risks, including potential for environmental litigation, community opposition, and reputational damage due to alleged non-compliance with environmental and social standards and lack of transparent consultation processes.

Source: Reporting based on recent findings.