In December 2022, the arid landscapes of rural Buhera in Manicaland province, southeastern Zimbabwe, witnessed an unusual spectacle of grandeur and significance.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accompanied by a high-powered delegation including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri, descended upon the region.
The occasion marked the ground-breaking ceremony for the Sabi Star lithium mine, named Max Mind Zimbabwe, a Chinese-owned venture valued at US$130 million.
“Designed to produce 900,000 tonnes of raw lithium ore per year,” claimed Chengxin Lithium Group of China, the project brought excitement, hope, and awe to thousands of villagers unaccustomed to the sight of modern off-roaders and wailing sirens.
The presence of top government officials and an extensive security team added a sense of importance to the event, drawing thousands of villagers who, in stark contrast to their usual surroundings, were greeted by the sight of modern off-roaders and blaring sirens.
Excitement, hope, and awe filled the air, but within the vast crowds, a silent dissent brewed among those displaced by the lithium project.
Ward 12, encompassing Tagarira and Mukwasi villages under Chief Nyashanu, bore witness to the displacement of at least 40 families.
Sabi Star Mine, owned by Chengxin Lithium Group of China in collaboration with Max Mind Investments Zimbabwe Private Limited, claimed a staggering 900,000 tonnes of raw lithium ore production annually.
An interview with a Sabi Star Mine worker who refused to be named for fear of being victimised revealed that mining rights were granted on October 3, 2018, covering 55 claims and an area of 3,800 hectares.
The mine, located 40 km east of Murambinda business center, stirred controversy as it displaced families dating back to November 8, 2000, when claims were initially registered under Mezzotin Minerals Inc.
Chengxin, with a 51% stake in the venture, invested over US$80 million in the project, slated for commissioning in August.
However, the relocation of villagers from Ward 12 became a contentious issue, with claims that they were ambushed into signing agreements without a full understanding and legal representation.
The affected villagers, relocated to different areas, allege that they were disempowered during negotiations and faced challenges comprehending the relocation agreements.
“We tried to even get our own lawyer who is my younger brother to assist us in the negotiation process, but the DDC was not happy.
“Whatever our chief and the DDC says goes, so we were disempowered,” said Shame Masokozi Chamunorwa, an affected villager.
A clause in the agreement seemingly prevents further claims against the miner, leaving the relocated villagers aggrieved, particularly regarding compensation for adult children and the fate of their land and livestock.
Observations in Murambinda, where the families were relocated, revealed that the stands allocated were smaller than specified in the agreement.
The houses provided were already showing signs of structural issues, leaving the relocated families discontented.
“We only got to view these housing units a day before we moved in after we had refused to vacate our homes arguing that we had not been shown the houses.
“We had to move because we did not have a choice,” said Itai Murwira, one of the relocatees.
Furthermore, concerns were raised about the lack of title deeds, sidelining of women in the process, and suspicions regarding water quality from boreholes sunk by the mine.
Buhera Rural District Council CEO Emily Chibvongodze refused to comment citing fears of victimisation.
“There was a time I mentioned a community project being done by the mine on national radio and I was reprimanded,” she said.
The mine officials refused to comment on why the families were yet to get their title deeds and also refused to divulge the criteria used to select the men and women cited in court papers from each family.
The Sabi Star lithium mine project, though celebrated by some, has left a trail of discontent, displacement, and unanswered questions among the communities affected. As the project progresses, the socio-economic impacts on the relocated families continue to unfold, sparking debates on accountability, transparency, and the well-being of those caught in the crossfire of development and progress.
