Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike recently in Buhera
THE relocation of villagers, exhumations and reburials of 29 people, including five of minors, from environs around Sabi Star Mine to pave way for lithium mining in Buhera District were aboveboard.
This puts to rest claims from some sections that the process was done haphazardly.
Sabi Star Mine was commissioned by President Mnangagwa in 2023 and is one of the leading lithium miners in Zimbabwe.
In separate interviews, Government officials, traditional leaders including Chief Nyashanu, the Buhera District Council, families of the deceased and other villagers collectively dismissed reports suggesting the exercise was mishandled.
They said the accusations were false, malicious and motivated by greed.
Buhera district development coordinator, Mr Freeman Maviza, said the process was consultative and guided by traditional leaders.
“This process was consultative and guided by traditional leaders being the custodians of norms and values within the community.
“As Government, we say traditional leaders help us, how do we go about it. They will then help us within their cultural practices.
“The families of relatives who were to be exhumed and reburied were engaged. Traditional leaders played a crucial role in guiding the process,” he said.
Mr Maviza indicated that he was surprised to hear about the false claims, saying everyone who was affected by the mining activities was compensated.
“Remember the families helped in identifying the graves of their deceased families, showing that there was concurrence. If there were some grievances, those people should have approached the traditional leaders seeking redress,” he said.
In separate interviews, village headmen Bhasvi (George Muchingami), Mkwasi (Noah Manhidza) and Nemhari (Arkshow Mupariri) said they were directly involved in the process.
They all said cultural, legal and spiritual protocols were strictly observed and that no affected family raised any objection during the consultations or during the relocation itself.
The traditional leaders said a structured series of meetings starting in 2017 laid the groundwork for the relocation, with mine officials, government officials and the Buhera District Council engaging families to outline how graves located within the mining project area would be carefully moved.
They said consultations continued in 2019 and 2020, with families unanimously endorsing relocation procedures and setting out specific cultural rituals to be followed.
Final phases of consultations from 2021 to 2023 addressed logistical aspects of the exhumations and reburials, the timing of rituals, the presence of family elders, spiritual custodians and health officers, as well as the selection of the reburial sites.
Chief Nyashanu, born Chemwi Kandenga, reaffirmed that the exhumation process operated under full traditional authority and cultural compliance.
He said traditional protocols had been observed, elders were consulted and the necessary rituals were performed.
“We gathered our subjects and informed them about the mining operations which the Government wanted to start in their area.
“We heard their responses and were shared the modalities that were to be undertaken. People were given choices and offered options. They weighed their options and we then agreed.
“No one raised an objection and from our observations, everyone was happy with the arrangements,” he said.
Chief Nyashanu said he was surprised by the false reports.
He said these, were manufactured out of greediness from a few villagers.
The villagers appeared to be looking forward to get “something’” from the mine, a scenario he described as unfortunate.
“This is a closed chapter. I know people want money, but find better ways of looking for money. Stop creating stories,” he said.
Headman Nemhari (Arkshow Mupariri) separately added his voice saying:
“I personally supervised and reburied the first four graves in 2017 during the exploration stage of the Mine.
“Although I left the Headman’s position in 2019, I had already laid out the way in which all reburials must be done in accordance with our culture.
“I also attended the reburials in 2023 in Mubaiwa village. I can tell you that I am a tough man to deal with. You can ask around, I don’t play when it comes to our customs and traditions.
“Everything was done properly,” he said.
Villagers also said those voicing concerns were among people engaged throughout the processes.
Families maintained that they had long agreed to the relocation and that the mine, government and traditional leadership had coordinated the process in a respectful and transparent manner.
