Zimbabwe Will Not Pursue Growth at Any Cost, Dr Wushe Declares as He Emphasises Need for Environmental Protection
The urgency of balancing Zimbabwe’s mining expansion with environmental protection and agricultural preservation has taken centre stage, with Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Dr Thomas Utete Wushe warning that the country cannot afford to sacrifice its natural inheritance in pursuit of mineral wealth, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
His call comes just weeks after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster for 17 rivers, including the Mazowe, Save, Sanyati, Munyati, Mutare and Umzingwane, ravaged by years of legal and illegal alluvial mining.
An estimated 85,000 people in Chimanimani and Mutasa have been left exposed to polluted water and waterborne diseases from riverbed mining, while Bindura’s water crisis has been blamed on upstream mining operations.
Speaking at a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zimbabwe event on sustainable mining and environmental stewardship, Dr Wushe acknowledged the significant economic opportunities presented by the mining sector but stressed that the country will not pursue growth at any cost.
“Mining creates opportunity, but it also creates pressure on land, water, biodiversity and communities. These trade-offs are real, and they must be confronted, not ignored. Zimbabwe will not pursue growth at any cost,” Dr Wushe declared. “Our mineral wealth must drive tangible national development, uplift communities and guarantee a long-term environmentally sustainable future for the country.”
The Permanent Secretary’s remarks come as the government positions mining as a cornerstone of its economic transformation strategy, with ambitious targets for sector growth. However, he stressed that mineral development must coexist harmoniously with agriculture, tourism and other sectors that depend on healthy ecosystems.
The tension between mining and farming has become increasingly visible, with competing land-use claims sparking acrimony in areas where mining licences have been issued on prime agricultural land. Farmers have complained of contamination, displacement and reduced yields, while mining advocates point to the sector’s contribution of approximately 80% of export earnings and 12% of GDP.
Dr Wushe said the government bears responsibility for managing these competing interests through clear policy, enforced regulation and accountable institutions.
“The role of government is clear. It is to ensure that these trade-offs are managed in the national interest, guided by clear policy, enforced regulation and accountable institutions.”
On the regulatory front, Dr Wushe revealed that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is finalising the new Mines and Minerals Bill, a modern legislative framework designed to replace the archaic Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), which dates back to 1961. The new law is expected to introduce a digital cadastre system to eliminate mining claim disputes, strengthen environmental compliance and require companies to contribute to rehabilitation funds before operations begin.
Dr Wushe also pushed for greater value addition and beneficiation, emphasising that Zimbabwe must move beyond raw mineral exports by developing integrated value chains that create jobs and stimulate industrial growth.
But sustainable mining, he said, must deliver tangible benefits to host communities beyond extraction.
“Communities must see mining not as a disruption imposed upon them, but as a driver of opportunity and improved livelihoods.”
Achieving this will require sustained investment in local infrastructure, skills development and enterprise growth to ensure mining communities share in the country’s mineral wealth.
Dr Wushe called on development partners to support initiatives that promote responsible mining practices, protect the environment and strengthen community resilience. He pledged the government’s continued backing for sustainable mining programmes, stressing that collaboration among government, industry, communities and development partners will be critical to ensuring the sector drives economic transformation without compromising Zimbabwe’s environmental heritage.
