Godfrey Mtimba
Bikita—A local human rights organisation, the Bikita Land Institute of Development (BILD), recently the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on behalf of Murape villagers in Ward 11, Bikita district, demanding the release of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificates and related documents for the Chinese-owned Sino Bikita Minerals lithium mine.
In a letter dated 17 November 2025 and addressed to EMA provincial director, Milton Muusha, BILD requested access to the mine’s environmental compliance documents, citing the right to public information under Chapter 7 of the Freedom of Information Act [2020].
The villagers accuse the mining company of violating environmental rights guaranteed under the constitution of Zimbabwe and provisions of the Environmental Management Act.
According to the petition, the mining company allegedly dug trenches that were left unfilled and later became filled with contaminated water from slime dam construction activities.
The villagers claim the polluted water flows into the Mungezi River, their primary source of water for domestic use and livestock.
They further allege poor waste management practices during the construction of the slime dam, which they say has polluted the surrounding environment as well as water sources in the slime dam and the nearby Matezva Dam.
The villagers warned that failure to properly regulate the mine’s activities risks long-term environmental degradation and irreversible damage to their livelihoods.
“We recognise and acknowledge the importance of proper waste management infrastructure for mining operations in our area. While such infrastructure may support mining activities that bring economic benefits, slime dams, if not properly designed, constructed and managed, can pose significant environmental and health risks to surrounding communities,” the petition reads.
Muusha said he had not yet seen the petition, stating that he was out of office when contacted for a comment.
“I have been out of the office since last week, so I haven’t seen it. If it was submitted at the offices, someone else may have received it. I am yet to see it,” Muusha said.
However, BILD director, Mountain Mujakachi, insisted that the petition was formally submitted at the EMA provincial offices and showed NewsHub a stamped copy acknowledging receipt.
Community leaders say they want clarity on the social and environmental impacts of the project and how the safety and wellbeing of residents in Murape village and surrounding areas are being protected.
In the letter, BILD formally requested copies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the slime dam construction project in Murape Village, Ward 11, the environmental management plan associated with the construction and operation of the slime dam and the EIA certificate issued for the project.
The then spokesperson for Sino Bikita Minerals Lithium Mine, Collen Nikisi, denied the allegations but requested that questions be submitted formally via email.
Nikisi has since left the mine for greener pastures.
“There is nothing like that. Please email your questions. Our policy now allows us to respond only to questions submitted by email,” said Nikisi.
By the time of publication, the company had not responded to emailed questions.
Section 73 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees the right to a clean environment and obliges the state to protect the environment for present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures.
BILD also cited section 70 of the Environmental Management Act, which prohibits the discharge or disposal of waste in a manner that causes environmental pollution.
Chinese investors operating in Zimbabwe’s mining sector have previously been accused by civil society groups of labour rights abuses, environmental degradation and resource exploitation.
Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) director Farai Maguwu accused some Chinese mining operations of committing serious environmental violations.
“Digging up rivers, flattening mountains, and even exhuming human remains. In some cases, they crush human remains together with mineral ore. There is no single community that now has better roads, health or educational facilities because of the Chinese,” Maguwu said.
He further alleged that some mining projects commence operations without proper authorisation, with regulatory paperwork allegedly processed retrospectively.