Calls for tighter regulation of Zimbabwe’s mining sector have gained renewed urgency after Parliament raised concerns over pollution from mining activities, echoing years of complaints from communities in Matabeleland North who say contaminated rivers are destroying their health, livestock and livelihoods.
During a recent sitting of the National Assembly, Bridget Nyandoro warned that while mining remains a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, irresponsible practices were leaving behind polluted rivers, degraded land and abandoned pits.
“Mining activities continue to contribute significantly to our economy but they must not come at the expense of the environment and the livelihoods of our communities,” Nyandoro said, adding that some mining companies had failed to comply with environmental regulations and should be held accountable. She urged authorities to strengthen enforcement and ensure mined-out areas are rehabilitated.
The concerns mirror findings from an Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism investigation, which documented years of pollution affecting communities along the Lukosi and Deka rivers in Hwange District.
According to the investigation, residents have linked repeated fish kills, livestock deaths and unexplained illnesses to pollution associated with coal mining and thermal power generation.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred in 2018, when 48 residents of Nekabandama village reportedly developed a mysterious illness locals named umsheshaphansi. Villagers described suffering dizziness, headaches, nausea and sudden loss of body coordination after consuming water from the Lukosi River.
Speaking to Oxpeckers, village head Zamani Nyoni said those affected came from different villages but all relied on the same stretch of river for water.
Community activist Tendai Kalimbota told Oxpeckers residents believed the contamination was linked to a chemical spill from the now-defunct Sunrise Chilota Colliery, although official findings were never publicly released.
The investigation also documented repeated environmental disasters along the Deka River, where residents reported mass fish deaths in 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2023, together with livestock losses and declining water quality.
Former Hwange West legislator Jealous Sansole, interviewed by Oxpeckers, argued that decades of expanding coal mining and thermal power generation had outpaced environmental planning.
He said multiple mines, industries and municipal sewer systems discharge waste into the Deka River, leaving downstream communities to bear the consequences.
The investigation further explored whether selenium, a trace element released during coal combustion and mining, could be contributing to the pollution. At high concentrations, selenium can become toxic to humans, livestock and aquatic life.
Although the investigation could not conclusively prove selenium contamination through laboratory analysis, it cited scientific research identifying coal mining and coal-fired power stations as significant sources of selenium pollution. The symptoms reported by affected communities were also found to be consistent with selenium exposure, though further independent testing would be required to establish a definitive link.
The investigation found that conditions along parts of the Deka River have deteriorated to the point where residents have been warned against making direct contact with the water. Many households now depend on boreholes drilled by humanitarian organisations after abandoning the river as a source of drinking water.
Authorities acknowledge the seriousness of the problem.
Oxpeckers reported that Environmental Management Authority (EMA) Matabeleland North regional manager Chipo Zuze confirmed that a multi-agency committee involving government departments and universities was established in 2025 to identify long-term solutions to pollution affecting the Deka River.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo also told Oxpeckers that government was aware of the environmental and public health risks posed by mine waste pollution and said efforts were underway to reduce pollution entering the river while addressing air quality concerns in Hwange.
For communities living downstream, however, the parliamentary debate represents more than another policy discussion.
Residents have spent years raising concerns over polluted rivers, unexplained illnesses, dying livestock and disappearing fish stocks. Parliament’s latest intervention suggests those concerns are now receiving national attention.
The challenge now is whether the calls made in Parliament will translate into stronger environmental enforcement, greater transparency over pollution incidents and meaningful protection for communities whose rivers continue to bear the cost of Zimbabwe’s coal economy.
This story incorporates findings from an investigation by Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, with parliamentary proceedings providing additional context on the growing national concern over mining-related pollution.