Community halts mining operations

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CHIEF Peter Ngorima has come under fire for allegedly jumping the gun and authorising foreign ‘investors’ to begin riverbed mining along the Haroni and Rusitu rivers in Vimba, Chimanimani despite the practice being banned.
In recent weeks, angry villagers from both sides of the Mozambique border have clashed with the Chinese mining firm, accusing it of arrogance and operating without the necessary Government approvals.
Tensions reached a boiling point when the company dug trenches across the access road and used heavy machinery to block villagers from reaching the site.
The Manica Post understands that determined residents eventually forced their way through and demanded an immediate halt to operations, pending a meeting involving the firm, Government officials, traditional leaders, and community representatives.
However, the meeting never materialised. Instead, a handful of villagers were told by Chief Ngorima to return and “co-exist” with the ‘investors’ for mutual benefit — a position he later confirmed as his resolution of the matter.
“Yes, I solved the matter. The investors are right, and they followed all the necessary procedures. The problem is that we have opposition political figures who are against development, and they are the ones resisting the mining project,” said Chief Ngorima.
Ironically, Chief Ngorima admitted that the ‘investors’ were mining along the two rivers.
“They are working along Haroni and Rusitu rivers,” Chief Ngorima confirmed.
Government issued a ban on all riverbed mining to combat severe environmental damage, water pollution, and ecosystem degradation.
The ban, enforced through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, prohibits alluvial mining in or along rivers and streams, with violators facing strict penalties including the seizure of equipment and minerals, and a number of arrests have already been made.
This ban includes mining activities by holders of special grants and special permits, and enforcement efforts are being intensified with the collaboration of agencies like the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
However, gold mining activities along the Haroni and Rusitu rivers, straddling both sides of the border, have been ongoing for nearly a month, causing significant water pollution and widespread environmental damage.
Contacted for comment, Acting Manicaland Provincial Director for Local Government Services in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr. John Misi, said: “From an operational standpoint, we do not expect traditional leaders to authorise mining activities. It is surprising to learn that a chief sanctioned mining operations ahead of Government and the relevant departments. The responsibility to approve such activities does not lie with traditional leaders. For detailed information regarding the legality of the Chimanimani mining operations, I would refer you to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.”
Manicaland Provincial Mining Director in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Ms Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa said: “We cannot necessarily say what they are doing is illegal basing on what we saw on social media without getting on the ground. We have a number of individuals with special grants in Chimanimani, some of whom could have partnered the Chinese.
“We will have a joint operation with other relevant departments to determine whether their operations are indeed illegal. But if it is riverbed mining taking place, that indeed is illegal.”
The community is complaining that the miners moved their machinery, and set up camp directly in people’s fields without any consultations or agreement, and with the farming season upon us, there is no land left for cultivation, especially in Ward 22 of Chimanimani District.
The rivers have become polluted, while clean water is no longer available due to siltation.
Traditional swimming and fishing spots – most notably the Nyakwaa Forest and Pool, once a tourist attraction at the foot of the Chimanimani Mountain Range – have been destroyed.
In an interview, an opinion leader in the area, Mr Godfrey Hlabiso, said: “There is a company that came to embark gold mining on the upper end of Haroni River.
“People bitterly complained, and the military personnel manning the border intervened. That was in September. We wanted to see their official documents that give them the permission to mine in this area.
“They went away after failing to give a satisfactory explanation. They returned this month intending to continue with their operations. We approached them and they said they were here to do land rehabilitation, but we strongly doubted their statements.
“We recently went back to the area where they are mining, and asked whether they had eventually brought the requisite documentation. They said they were given a contract to repair the road, so they intend to get the money to repair the road from the mining activities that they have embarked on.
“They alleged that they had agreed and signed papers with Headman Garikai Matsatswa, Headman Steady Hlabiso, Councillor Samuel Matayi and Chief Peter Ngorima. They said they also intend to build a secondary school in the area because there is no secondary school here.
“We said there is nothing wrong with what they were saying, but all we wanted was to see official Government papers that permit them to conduct gold mining in the area. We are aware that Government, through Parliament, banned riverbed mining.”
Mr Hlabiso said the situation escalated when the miners began changing their statements, prompting villagers to push for a complete stop to their operations.
“On Sunday, they claimed to have the papers stored in their phones. We refused to accept that, and demanded hard copies, which they failed to produce. Out of arrogance, they lined up five to six tipper trucks and dug a long trench in Nyakwaa Forest to block us from reaching the mining site. When we eventually gained access, we again demanded the documents, but they told us the papers were in Mutare,” Mr Hlabiso explained.
He said the community ordered the miners to halt operations immediately, and insisted they return to the people they claimed had signed agreements so that an all-inclusive meeting could be convened.
“That meeting was supposed to take place last Saturday, but it never happened. Instead, a few selected individuals met Chief Ngorima, who advised that the community must coexist with the investor,” Mr Hlabiso added.
Efforts to get a comment from Chimanimani District Development Officer, Ms Vivian Mateta were fruitless as she referred all questions to her assistant, whom she said went on the ground.
The Assistant District Development Officer for Chimanimani District, Mr Elisha Mushayavanhu referred this reporter to his superior.