Zimbabwe mining reforms face doubts over local damage

Zimbabwe is considering a new mining law that would increase environmental and community protections as residents of Shurugwi say open-cast gold mining has damaged homes, polluted waterways and displaced families.

A bill before parliament would replace the 1961 Mines and Minerals Act. It includes requirements for environmental impact assessments before mining licences are issued, an environmental restoration fund, a digital registry of mining titles and a new mining court.

Residents and environmental activists in Shurugwi say mining has filled homes with dust, cracked houses and water reservoirs through blasting, and risked washing cyanide used in gold extraction into rivers. Pardon Machocho, vice chairman of a residents' association, said families had been displaced and artisanal miners pushed off their claims.

The main operator in the area since 2021 is Chinese-owned Zimbabwe Chenxi Investments, which lists a son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as chairman. The company said it had valid environmental impact assessment certificates, faced regular government inspections, watered roads to control dust, managed stormwater and siltation, planted 20,000 indigenous trees in 2025 and monitored cyanide levels in groundwater.

Legal expert James Tsabora said the bill went much further than the current law on community and environmental protection. Resource activist Farai Maguwu and legal watchdog Veritas raised concerns about government dominance, ministerial discretion and safeguards against conflicts of interest.