Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
For residents of Cromlet and Valleydale, the promise of peaceful living on the outskirts of Harare is increasingly being overshadowed by fears that mining activities are threatening their homes, livestock and the natural environment they hoped to preserve.
Located about 25 kilometres north of Harare, in the Arcturus area, the two townships have become the focus of residents’ concerns over alleged illegal mining, encroachment on private properties and environmental destruction.
What was once prized for its tranquillity and proximity to the capital is now, according to residents, facing growing pressure from mining operations that they say are undermining the area’s potential for ecotourism and sustainable development.
The residents are calling for urgent intervention by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and other relevant authorities to investigate the activities, establish whether operators are complying with the law and stop any unauthorised mining.
Their concerns raise broader questions about the balance between mineral extraction, private property rights, environmental protection and the enforcement of Zimbabwe’s mining regulations.
For the affected communities, the issue is not simply whether minerals should be extracted, but whether mining can be conducted without placing homes, livelihoods and the environment at risk.
“We love this area; it has the potential to become a tourist resort, but the illegal mining activities are a major challenge,” said Cromlet resident Professor Tendai Arnold Kureya.
Professor Kureya said the area’s peaceful surroundings and accessibility to Harare had influenced his decision to settle there, but he feared that the character of the community was being eroded.
“Most of the miners operating here do not have the necessary papers, and even when they do, they often fail to follow regulations. This is a big issue,” he said.
His allegations point to the need for a comprehensive assessment of mining operations in the area, including verification of mining titles, environmental approvals and compliance with the conditions under which mining activities are permitted.
MINING CLOSER TO HOMES
For residents who have lived in the area for decades, the reported encroachment of mining operations towards residential properties has become a particularly pressing concern.
Mr Colin Ferguson, who has lived in Cromlet since 1995, said he had witnessed mining activities moving closer to private properties over the years.
“Over the years, we have seen mining activities encroaching into our properties, which is alarming,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said miners had dug within 30 metres of his cottage, raising concerns about the safety of his property and the proximity of excavation activities to residential structures.
“In my case, the miners were digging within 30 metres of my cottage. This is against the Mines and Minerals Act. While we have managed to halt some activities temporarily, the large-scale destruction continues, thereby threatening areas earmarked for ecotourism,” he said.
The allegations warrant independent verification, including an assessment of the affected sites, the boundaries of registered mining claims and the applicable legal restrictions.
A physical inspection by the relevant authorities would also help establish the extent of excavation, the proximity of mining operations to homes and whether appropriate safety measures have been implemented.
The residents’ concerns underline the importance of transparent enforcement, particularly where mining activities take place near established communities.
WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES
Zimbabwe’s mining and environmental laws provide a framework for regulating mineral extraction and managing its environmental consequences.
The Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] governs mining rights and operations, while the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] establishes the country’s principal framework for environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources.
EMA states that prospecting, mining and quarrying projects require an environmental and social impact assessment certificate before implementation. The assessment process is intended to identify potential environmental and social effects and determine appropriate mitigation measures.
Under section 97 of the Environmental Management Act, projects listed in the First Schedule must not be implemented without the requisite environmental impact assessment certificate and compliance with its conditions. The Act also provides for remedial action where environmental requirements have been breached.
These requirements make environmental compliance an essential part of responsible mining, rather than an administrative formality.
For Cromlet and Valleydale, the central question is whether the mining activities complained of are being conducted in accordance with the law and whether the responsible authorities are effectively monitoring compliance.
Residents have called for closer engagement with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and other agencies to ensure that operators possess the necessary documentation and observe the applicable environmental and mining requirements.
The allegations of encroachment and environmental damage also warrant investigation to determine the extent of the harm, who is responsible and what rehabilitation measures may be required.
However, claims of illegality must be established through documentary checks, site inspections and responses from the relevant authorities rather than residents’ allegations alone.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL COST
Beyond concerns about property boundaries, the residents say the mining activities are damaging the environment and creating potential risks for people and livestock.
Excavation and the disturbance of land can have consequences extending beyond the immediate mining site. Depending on the methods used and the location, poorly managed operations may contribute to soil erosion, sediment entering watercourses, the degradation of vegetation and unsafe open excavations.
Such risks require particular attention where mining takes place close to homes, livestock grazing areas or land earmarked for other forms of development.
The extent of any environmental damage in Cromlet and Valleydale, however, needs to be established through an independent assessment rather than assumed.
EMA’s mandate includes monitoring environmental impacts, regulating and reviewing environmental impact assessments, and taking appropriate measures to protect the environment.
A detailed assessment of the affected areas would help determine whether excavation has altered drainage patterns, damaged vegetation, exposed residents or animals to unsafe pits, or affected water sources.
It would also establish whether mining operators have implemented the mitigation measures required under their environmental approvals.
Where damage is confirmed, the relevant authorities would need to determine the appropriate corrective measures, including rehabilitation of disturbed land where required by law.
For residents, the priority is to ensure that environmental damage does not become permanent while disputes over mining rights and regulatory compliance remain unresolved.
A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AT RISK
Professor Kureya believes Cromlet has the potential to develop into a tourism destination, offering an alternative to more intensive forms of land use.
Such a prospect would depend on the area’s environmental condition, accessibility, infrastructure and the viability of proposed tourism activities. Nevertheless, the residents’ concerns highlight the importance of resolving competing land-use pressures before environmental degradation undermines future development options.
Ecotourism depends on the conservation of natural features and the responsible management of land. Where mining and tourism interests overlap, planning and regulatory oversight become particularly important.
The issue therefore presents authorities with a wider development challenge: how to ensure that mineral resources are exploited lawfully while protecting the environmental assets that communities believe could support alternative economic opportunities.
For Cromlet and Valleydale, a resolution would require more than temporarily halting individual mining operations. It would require a clear understanding of which activities are authorised, which conditions apply, whether those conditions are being observed and what action should follow where violations are established.
The outcome could help determine whether the area retains the environmental qualities that residents value and whether future development can proceed without avoidable conflict.
CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
The residents say they are willing to work with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and other relevant authorities to find a lasting solution.
Their appeal places the spotlight on the responsibilities of the institutions charged with administering mining rights, enforcing environmental standards and responding to complaints involving potentially unsafe or unlawful operations.
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando stressed the importance of protecting the environment before mining begins.
“Before mining can commence, a mining title and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are required,” he said.
“These assessments determine the feasibility of mining and outline measures to minimise environmental impact.”
The remarks stress the importance of verifying both mining rights and environmental approvals. However, the residents’ allegations require a specific response from the authorities responsible for the Cromlet and Valleydale area.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development would need to establish the status of the disputed mining operations, while EMA would be expected to clarify whether environmental assessments and relevant approvals are in place and whether inspections have been conducted.
The relevant mining administration, police and local authority could also assist in establishing the status of the sites, the nature of any complaints received and the action taken.
Their responses would be essential to determining whether the reported activities constitute violations and what measures are available to address any confirmed breaches.
For the residents, the immediate objective is to secure their properties and protect the environment. The longer-term challenge is to ensure that mineral extraction, where legally permitted, takes place within a framework that safeguards public safety and environmental sustainability.
As Zimbabwe continues to pursue economic development through the exploitation of its natural resources, the concerns raised in Cromlet and Valleydale illustrate why regulatory compliance and environmental protection must remain central to mining.
The residents are not merely defending the tranquillity of their neighbourhood. They are asking for clarity over who may mine, where mining may take place, what safeguards must be observed and who will be held accountable when those safeguards are breached.
Whether their concerns lead to effective intervention will depend on the evidence gathered, the transparency of the investigations and the willingness of the responsible institutions to enforce the law.
For a community that values its natural surroundings and hopes to preserve them for future development, the demand is straightforward: mining must not come at the expense of residents’ safety, environmental integrity and the lawful use of their land.
