Compiled By Joyce Nyamukunda Machiri

Growing up in Mutoko, Zimbabwe, I was always intrigued by the loud, booming sounds coming from surrounding quarry and black granite mines. I would ask my grandmother about them, but she all she could proffer were vague answers. To her, these noises were simply a facet of everyday life—a distant echo devoid of explanation. As a child, I struggled to grasp the true meaning behind those explosions, but as I matured, I began to comprehend their significance. They represented the sounds of extraction, of wealth being mined from the very land that nurtured us. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder: who was truly benefiting from that wealth?

Today, I’m driven by a mission to ensure that communities like mine understand that some “noises” mean wealth and that they can benefit from the minerals beneath their feet. This is where Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles come in. They offer a framework for transforming mining from an exploitative practice into a tool for long-term community development—something that is especially important as Zimbabwe navigates emerging opportunities and challenges presented by the lithium boom.

Growing up in a mining community, I witnessed first-hand the complex realities of resource extraction. My village, rich with black granite, had long been home to quarry mines that caused environmental damage and left communities with little to show for it. The mining industry is prone to irresponsible elements who extract mineral wealth without investing in the local people or the land itself. This stark reality sparked another critical question in my mind: How can we ensure that the wealth generated by mining truly benefits the communities that coexist with these operations?

My journey of advocacy for responsible mining has always prioritised empowering communities—especially those in areas like Mutoko, where people often feel disconnected from the wealth generated from the resources beneath their land. When I was growing up, my grandmother couldn’t explain the blasting sounds we heard from the nearby quarries because she didn’t understand what was really happening. Today, communities need to grasp the full extent of developments in the mining sector to effectively advocate for their fair share of the wealth being generated.

Therefore, empowering communities means ensuring they have access to information, education, and resources to understand their rights and know how to hold mining companies accountable. It means ensuring that local people are consulted on decisions that affect their lives, whether that’s about environmental protection, job opportunities, or the social impacts of mining. In the context of the lithium boom, this is even more critical. If Zimbabwe’s lithium resources are to provide long-term benefits for local communities, these communities must be at the centre of decision-making processes. From fair compensation to environmental safeguards, responsible mining can help ensure that people living near [lithium] mines enjoy the wealth and development they deserve, rather than being left behind as outsiders extract the country’s valuable resources.

As discussions around ESG principles gain traction in the global mining industry, Zimbabwe has a unique opportunity to align its mining practices with international standards of responsible mining. Indeed, momentum for ESG adoption is already increasing in Zimbabwe – driven by regulatory frameworks and the interests of various stakeholders, including investors, employees, suppliers, and buyers. Thus, adopting ESG is no longer an option for companies but an imperative, a welcome development considering that ESG emphasizes the importance of making mining not only profitable but also sustainable, socially responsible, and ethically governed. This is especially crucial in the face of Zimbabwe’s growing prominence as a key player in the global lithium market as it holds some of the largest lithium reserves in the world.

However, these lithium reserves present a complex dilemma, on the one hand, this lithium rush could provide a major economic boost, offering jobs, foreign investment, and potential infrastructure development. On the other hand, it risks repeating the same mistakes of past mineral extraction, where mining led to environmental degradation, social inequality, and was tainted by poor governance. Increased extraction translates to increased environmental concerns, such as habitat destruction, water pollution, and unsustainable land use. If such a dire situation unfolds, communities could remain excluded from the economic benefits of mining, with little input into decisions that affect their lives. Moreover, the governance landscape could suffer from a lack of transparency and accountability regarding the management of mining revenues, further exacerbating inequalities and environmental harm.

This is why responsible mining—anchored in ESG principles—is more important than ever in the context of Zimbabwe’s lithium boom. The stakes are high, and it is essential that the country adopts practices that ensure both economic growth and sustainable development. If Zimbabwe’s lithium sector is to avoid the mistakes of the past, the mining industry must adopt a new, responsible model—one that puts communities and the environment first. This is an opportunity for the country to set an example for the world, demonstrating that mining can be both profitable and responsible.

A Call to Action

As I continue my work in responsible mining, I urge both industry professionals and policymakers to recognize the importance of adopting ESG principles in the context of Zimbabwe’s booming lithium sector. Now is the time to act, to ensure that the wealth generated by lithium mining translates into lasting benefits for communities, the economy, and the environment.

For me, this journey started with the simple question I asked my grandmother all those years ago. And today, as we stand on the brink of a new mining era in Zimbabwe, that question remains: How can we ensure that the communities closest to the mines—the ones that have long been overlooked—are able to enjoy their fair share of the wealth?

Let’s continue this conversation, work together, and create a future where mining is a positive force for change.

*Joyce Nyamukunda Machiri writes in her personal capacity. She is the mining and extractive industries program lead at the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association. Joyce is also the current coordinator of the Publish What You Pay Coalition in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba and is a member of the Alternative Mining Indaba steering committee.