Concerns over illegal mining activities along the Haroni River in southeastern Zimbabwe have escalated among local communities. Residents reported that in February, excavators operated by a Chinese mining syndicate began disturbing the riverbeds, leading to contamination and damage to the area’s ecology. The river is essential to the Ndau tribal people, as well as marking Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique.
Elias Mlambo, a local banana farmer and tribal elder, observed heavy earthmoving machinery entering the area without notice or proper permissions. “They appeared claiming to have a government license to dig for gold on our land, but never showed the actual permit,” Mlambo stated. Attempts to engage with the miners were met with language barriers, further complicating communication.
Over the following months, Mlambo and other tribal elders reported the situation to municipal authorities and the ministry of mines but received little support. One response cited constraints posed by high-level government partnerships and economic priorities that undermined tribal land rights. Critics argue this lack of action has allowed foreign mining companies to operate with impunity across Zimbabwe.
Nsama Musonda, executive director of Care for Nature Zambia, characterized the relationship between state authorities and Chinese miners as mutually beneficial but heavily biased against local communities. “This gifts Chinese businesspeople a carefree right to dig for precious minerals — without consent — on tribal people’s lands,” Musonda noted.
The situation prompted Mlambo and other community members to form a cross-border alliance with residents in Mozambique, where pollution from the Zimbabwean mining activities had also adversely affected local fish stocks and raised health concerns. Manuel Pinto, a villager from the Mozambican side, emphasized the shared identity and rights of the Ndau people across the river border, highlighting the need for joint action to safeguard their livelihoods.
With their grievances overlooked, the communities resorted to visible acts of protest against the miners, such as creating noise disturbances and refusing to supply them with basic goods. Local activists also filed urgent environmental petitions with authorities in Mozambique to push for action from the Zimbabwean government. Their efforts culminated in a coordinated protest that included nighttime visits to the mining site, where they left messages demanding accountability.
While the Zimbabwean government has often been criticized for its inaction regarding illegal mining, local leaders like Pedrito Martinho Campira noted that aggressive petitioning has created diplomatic pressure on Zimbabwe’s government. “This has created a diplomatic headache for Zimbabwe’s stubborn authorities, whom locals suspect were shielding the Chinese syndicate,” Campira stated.
In June, the Chinese mining company reportedly abandoned its operations following sustained community resistance from both sides of the river. Mlambo reflected on the victory, noting the unfamiliarity of the situation for the miners, who were unaccustomed to facing coordinated grassroots opposition.
Despite a promise from the Chinese syndicate to return, local communities remain vigilant, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing solidarity and resistance. “As Ndau people on both sides of the border, we resolve to be united and proactive in defending our ecosystems,” Mlambo concluded.
