Zimbabwe’s lithium mining boom threatens local grazing and water rights as communities face expropriation. Despite laws in place requiring environmental protections, local residents lack the power to enforce their rights amidst complications from mining operations and unclear government roles. The necessary balance between mining interests and indigenous rights remains unaddressed as concerns over pollution and resource depletion grow.
In Zimbabwe, the soaring demand for lithium, primarily for electric vehicle batteries and home solar systems, is creating significant challenges. Numerous lithium mines are situated within communal areas, like the Mandihongola mine in Gwanda, Sandawana mine in Mberengwa, and the Arcadia mine located in Goromonzi. Residents in these areas are starting to feel the impacts of this mining boom on their rights to land, grazing, and essential water resources.
According to Section 324 of the Mines and Minerals Act, the president can expropriate land for mining activities. This is causing discomfort as the government has granted exclusive mining rights to Chinese firms for minerals deemed critical. Local communities, with several generations having called these lands home, see their futures jeopardized by the lithium rush. Not only is drinking water becoming scarce, but grazing land is also under threat from the expansion of these mines.
Indigenous rights holders find themselves losing access to vital grazing land without adequate compensation as mining operations expand. Compounding the issue, the intersection of international human rights law and local land management powers adds another layer of complexity. While rural district councils wield authority over land use, their effectiveness in protecting indigenous interests remains in question.
Local residents are voicing concerns about how the mining operations are affecting their daily lives. For instance, communities like Mandihongola report that a Chinese mining firm extracting lithium at a rate of about 1000 tonnes daily is severely impacting their water sources and emitting residues into local water bodies that livestock depend on for drinking. This reality poses serious risks to their livelihoods, especially as livestock represent a critical source of income and wealth.
Yet, the Environmental Management Agency has been notably quiet on the adverse effects of lithium mining, and there’s been no confirmation of regulatory inspections to safeguard community rights related to water and grazing. The absence of clear communications from both the Environmental Ministry and other officials raises alarms about whether the farmers’ voices are being heard.
Zimbabwe is already struggling with land degradation and water contamination associated with both artisanal and larger mining operations, such as pollutants from gold extraction. This pollution poses risks to streams and rivers critical to urban water supplies. There are penalties outlined in the Environmental Management Act for companies that indiscriminately pollute water sources, yet rural communities lack the resources to enforce these regulations against powerful mining entities.
Moreover, questions linger regarding the future rehabilitation of lithium mines once extraction concludes. The pressing need for equilibrium between the rights of indigenous communities and the mining industry’s ambitions cannot be ignored.
Hoitsimolimo Mutlokwa, a researcher at the Centre for Labour Law at the University of the Free State, stresses that the ongoing mining on communal lands cannot be overlooked, highlighting the need to protect the rights and livelihoods of affected populations. Addressing such concerns now, before crises arise, is essential for the future well-being of local communities and their environments.
The surge in lithium mining within Zimbabwe’s communal areas poses serious risks to local communities, particularly regarding their access to water and grazing land. As indigenous rights come under threat, calls for transparency from governmental agencies grow louder. The balance between mining enterprises and community rights remains fragile, and with existing legislation largely unmonitored, the urgency for action is evident to protect the livelihoods of those affected.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
