Tildar Nyakuni

This question resonates deeply with my thoughts as a youth coordinator working with young people in Manicaland. Observing the steady flow of minerals being trucked out of our city, Mutare, towards the borders, the question remains: where are these minerals really going? While our natural resources are being extracted and exported, we, the children and youth of this region, continue to wallow in poverty, devoid of the basic services that should come with the wealth of our land. Thus, the question lingers: energy transition for whom?

I had the privilege of being part of a Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) supported delegation that attended the Africa Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) in Cape Town, South Africa. ZELA is currently implementing a project focused on the promotion of Environmental Child Rights within the mining sector, with support from TDH, the project objectives resonate well with the critical issues that were being discussed during AMI proceedings. The AMI provided an invaluable opportunity to learn and exchange experiences with other communities across Africa who are grappling with similar challenges. What became clear during this gathering is the need to redefine the future of Africa’s energy transition. It needs to respond directly to the daily needs and concerns of our people if we are to achieve a truly sustainable future.

Reflecting on Manicaland, my home province, I cannot help but feel the stark contrast between the riches of our natural resources and the struggles faced by our communities. Manicaland is endowed with vast deposits of minerals, yet we continue to experience deep energy poverty. Basic services like consistent electricity supply are scarce, and this affects every aspect of life, from education to environmental sustainability.

Many households in Manicaland still rely on candles for light, while firewood remains the primary energy source for cooking. This heavy reliance on traditional sources of energy places an additional burden on women and girls who spend hours each day collecting firewood, which severely limits their ability to pursue education, engage in economic activities, and participate fully in social life. The energy deficit in our region is not just an inconvenience – it is a systemic issue that perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender inequality.

In areas like Marange and Buhera, where diamonds and lithium are extracted, communities continue to struggle with basic infrastructure and services. Schools, for example, face severe electricity shortages. This leaves students unable to engage in digital learning and access critical technology. At Gomorefu Secondary School, for instance, the school received computers back in 2006, yet due to the lack of reliable electricity, students have not been able to use them fully. Worse still, the school had no trained computer teachers, meaning that even when the electricity was restored, there were no qualified instructors to guide the students. As a result, these students could not sit for computer-based exams for over a decade. This is a glaring example of how energy poverty directly hampers the prospects of young people in our communities. A just transition for Manicaland must address the energy needs of our schools, ensuring that they have reliable electricity, either through solar power or grid connections, to enable students to acquire essential digital skills. These skills are crucial for their participation in a rapidly digitalizing world.

Moreover, the issue of water scarcity and pollution remains critical, especially in areas like Chiadzwa and Kusena, where mining activities have severely degraded the land and polluted vital water sources. Rivers like the Odzi and Save, which local families rely on for drinking and gardening, have been contaminated by mining operations. Despite the obvious health risks posed by this pollution, families are left with few alternatives. A just transition must ensure that communities have access to clean, potable water, which could be provided through sustainable solutions like solar-powered boreholes and community-driven water projects. The responsibility for these solutions should not fall solely on the shoulders of mining companies’ corporate social responsibility programs. The government must also play a key role in ensuring equitable access to resources and prioritizing the allocation of public funds to improve the lives of its citizens.

For young people in mining communities like ours, energy justice represents more than access to reliable energy. It means creating opportunities that go beyond artisanal mining, particularly through climate-smart agriculture, which is supported by consistent access to water and enables food security and economic empowerment. Energy justice also means fostering educational environments that promote sustainability, such as through waste recycling initiatives or environmental awareness campaigns within schools.

A truly just energy transition for Manicaland will require collaboration between mining companies, government institutions, and local communities. It will require a shift in priorities, with people taking precedence over profit. This means ensuring that the resources derived from mining are used to support community development, education, and environmental protection. In this way, energy resources can be a powerful force for good, contributing to the creation of a fair, equitable, and sustainable future for all the people of Manicaland.

It is time for us to demand that energy transition is not just about meeting the needs of the market, but about meeting the needs of the people who have borne the brunt of the environmental, social, and economic consequences of resource extraction. Only then can we begin to build a future where everyone, regardless of their geographic location, has access to the benefits of our planet’s natural resources. Energy transition must serve the people, not just the industries that profit from the earth’s bounty.

Tildar Nyakuni is the Youth Projects Coordinator for ZIDAWU Youth Hub. She attended the 2025 Alternative Mining Indaba as a community member supported by ZELA under the TDH Germany Multi Actor Partnerships Project.