Zim GBC News | Mat South Correspondent
GWANDA – Councillors and traditional leaders in Gwanda have raised urgent concerns over the operations of the Gwanda Lithium Mine, citing severe dust pollution, damaged roads, and a lack of transparency, with some accusing the company of being “dishonest” and failing to honour community commitments.
The outcry emerged during a recent full council meeting of the Gwanda Rural District Council (GRDC), convened to review recommendations from the Rural District Development Committee (RDDC).
The RDDC had proposed forming a multi-stakeholder task force—including the Ministry of Mines, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and GRDC—to investigate whether the mine is actively extracting lithium on-site or only processing ore hauled from elsewhere, such as Sandawana.
However, councillors shifted the discussion to what they described as the mine’s failure to mitigate its impact on surrounding villages.
“There is dust affecting people. We were told dust suppressors would be used, but what is shocking is that water is only poured about 50 metres from the business centre, while other villagers continue to suffer,” said Councillor Ndlovu.
He accused mine officials of reneging on promises.
“We are dealing with people who are not honest,” he stated.
Another councillor questioned the company’s claim that all ore is imported.
“Are they genuine when they say all the ore is coming from outside? Have we established whether they are telling the truth, or whether they are mixing it with ore from this area?”
Health and infrastructure concerns dominated the session. One councillor noted the ineffectiveness of current dust control:
“People in this ward are complaining. The mine said it would pour water, but even when they do, it does not last long. This is a danger to the people.”
Another demanded a permanent solution:
“They pour water in the morning, but by 10am or 3pm the dust is back. We do not want this water-pouring arrangement; we want a tarred road.”
Councillor Sebata went further, alleging clandestine mining activity.
“They keep saying they are not mining here, but that is not true. When EMA last visited, they found gold mining activities that they were not aware of. The claim that they are only processing ore is not true.”
Infrastructure damage was also highlighted. Councillor Mhlanga said,
“The road to Ntephe is now in a poor state. If possible, they should allow us to open an alternative road for use.”
Chief Mathema questioned the ownership and social responsibility of the investors.
“Who exactly is mining here? Is it white investors or Chinese investors? If it is Chinese, they are not doing anything for us. They should construct roads and permanent infrastructure that benefits the community.”
In response, the District Development Coordinator stated that official information from the Ministry of Mines indicates no active mining at the site.
“According to the Ministry of Mines, the information we received is that they are not mining at the site but are only processing ore from elsewhere,” he said, adding that research is ongoing into whether the council can levy charges on processed ore.
Council Chairperson Mpathiswa Ncube called for higher-level intervention.
“We want another meeting with the Minister of State. We raised this issue before and it was thoroughly discussed, but there has been no progress. We need one voice and serious action.”
The GRDC is now pushing for the immediate formation of the task force and renewed engagement with government ministers to address the growing environmental and social grievances.
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