African Extractivism & the Green Transition (AEGT) Zimbabwe is calling for the adoption of sustainable mining practices in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to mineral extraction that benefits both current and future generations.
By Ryan Chigoche
As Zimbabwe and other African nations continue to rely heavily on their mineral resources for economic growth, the importance of sustainability has become a pressing concern for both environmental preservation and socio-economic development.
Sustainable mining practices are not just about minimizing environmental harm but also about ensuring the equitable distribution of the wealth generated from extraction.
In an interview with Mining Zimbabwe, African Extractivism & the Green Transition (AEGT) Zimbabwe Country Manager Lyman Mlambo said these practices must include both intra-generational and inter-generational equity.
“Sustainability also requires intra-generational equity and inter-generational equity in the distribution of monetary benefits from extractive activities. Intra-generational equity demands the use of some of the extractive proceeds to alleviate poverty in the current generation by addressing regional (geographical) development disparities. This has implications for the national budgetary process,” he said.
Mlambo’s call highlights that mining proceeds should be distributed equitably across Zimbabwe’s various regions, ensuring that wealth generated from the country’s mineral resources helps alleviate poverty and promote broader socio-economic development.
Moreover, Mlambo stressed the importance of inter-generational equity, which ensures that resources are preserved for future generations. He emphasized that part of the extractive proceeds should be reinvested in assets that can guarantee long-term income, particularly in non-exhaustible sectors.
“Inter-generational equity requires that some of the extractive proceeds be reinvested into alternative income-yielding assets (especially in non-exhaustible resource sectors), which can guarantee income in the future, or be invested in a fund that yields financial returns over time, or be used to establish permanent infrastructure that will benefit future generations,” he said.
A key part of this future-focused vision is the establishment of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs). Mlambo proposed that a portion of the proceeds from mining should be set aside annually and invested in long-term projects to ensure financial stability beyond the extraction of finite mineral resources.
“This money, which should be reinvested—called Depletion or User Cost—should be computed every year and set aside,” he added.
For Zimbabwe, this approach could provide a much-needed safety net, ensuring that the wealth generated from mining is not spent recklessly but is instead reinvested in a way that supports the country’s long-term economic and social goals.
In addition to economic strategies, Mlambo emphasized the importance of adopting comprehensive sustainability measures to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of mining.
These include practices such as reforestation, land rehabilitation, and the creation of Mine Closure Plans (MCP), as well as ensuring fair compensation for displaced communities through Social Impact Assessments (SIA).
“All the sustainability measures (EIA, MCP, SIA, budgetary processes, and setting aside some current proceeds for the future or SWF) need to be adopted to ensure that our extraction processes as a whole are sustainable,” he said.
However, Mlambo also called for innovation and technological investment as key elements in the future of sustainable mining.
Various experts believe that investing in automation, AI, miniaturized end-user products, new recycling technologies, and the green transition or revolution is key to remaining competitive in the future as a mining industry and as a country.
The call from African Extractivism & the Green Transition (AEGT) to adopt sustainable mining practices is a crucial step in ensuring that Zimbabwe’s mining industry contributes to long-term prosperity for both its current population and future generations.
