Communities must share in lithium boom, stakeholders warn

CHENGETAI MURIMWA

Communities living in Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich regions must play a greater role in environmental oversight and decision-making if the country is to convert its vast lithium resources into sustainable economic development, environmental and governance experts have said.

Speaking at the launch of a new responsible mining initiative, WWF Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) said stronger community participation is essential to ensuring that the economic benefits of mining are balanced with environmental protection and long-term social development.

The intervention comes as Zimbabwe positions itself as a key supplier of lithium and other critical minerals needed for the global energy transition. However, stakeholders warned that the sector’s long-term prospects could be threatened if environmental degradation and limited local benefits continue to characterise mining activities.

WWF Zimbabwe Programmes Manager Veronica Zano said mining operations in several parts of the country have contributed to deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss and land degradation, underscoring the need for stronger environmental safeguards.

“Communities in areas such as Penhalonga, Mazowe and other mining districts are already experiencing the environmental impacts associated with mining operations,” she said.

Zano noted that government policy is increasingly recognising the importance of environmental sustainability and community participation in natural resource management, with greater emphasis being placed on ensuring that residents of mineral-rich areas derive meaningful benefits from resource extraction.

Under the five-year initiative, WWF Zimbabwe and its partners will establish community-based environmental monitoring systems in districts such as Hwange and Binga. Local environmental stewards will be trained to work alongside institutions including the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), local authorities and the Forestry Commission to monitor the environmental impact of lithium mining and processing activities.

The programme will build on existing community structures while promoting greater participation by women and young people in environmental governance.

“Communities are often the first to observe environmental changes and should be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to support monitoring and restoration efforts,” Zano said.

ZELO Manager Farai Mutondoro said the issue of how communities benefit from mining investments remains unresolved despite more than a century of mineral exploitation in Zimbabwe.

“One of the contentious issues since the signing of the Rudd Concession in 1888 has been around benefits from mining and coexistence with communities. More than 136 years later, we are still grappling with the same question,” he said.

Mutondoro argued that the economic benefits of mining should extend beyond corporate social responsibility initiatives and charitable donations to include broader opportunities created through linkages with sectors such as tourism and conservation.

He identified Kamativi as a potential model where mining, wildlife conservation and tourism can coexist to generate diversified economic opportunities for local communities.

“Mining alone cannot transform everything. We need to look at the coexistence of mining, conservation and tourism and how communities can benefit from all these economic streams,” he said.

As part of the initiative, ZELO will assess partnerships between mining companies, communities and surrounding ecosystems, while evaluating whether corporate social responsibility commitments are translating into measurable benefits for local residents.

The organisation will also examine the extent to which mining companies’ development programmes align with priorities identified through village, ward and provincial development plans.

Mutondoro said sustainable mining requires communities to have the capacity to engage mining companies, monitor commitments and participate meaningfully in environmental governance.

The project will facilitate dialogue between communities, mining firms and government institutions to strengthen trust and enhance the sector’s social licence to operate.

Stakeholders said empowering communities to participate in environmental monitoring, benefit-sharing and decision-making would be critical if Zimbabwe is to maximise the opportunities presented by its lithium reserves while safeguarding ecosystems and livelihoods.

The initiative forms part of a broader regional programme aimed at promoting responsible mining of energy transition minerals and ensuring that economic growth, environmental sustainability and community development advance in tandem.