THE Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has urged the government to immediately halt mining operations in Tsvingwe, a residential suburb in Mutasa district, Manicaland province, warning that the activities threaten critical water infrastructure serving thousands of residents.
The watchdog said open-cast mining has begun on a hill that houses key water storage tanks central to the community’s water supply system, placing residents at risk of
water disruptions and potential health hazards.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between mining interests and community rights, with residents accusing authorities of prioritising extraction over access to safe water and environmental protection.
“This hill accommodates water tanks that are central to the community’s water supply system, and any disturbance to this infrastructure poses a direct and serious threat to the right to safe and reliable water for thousands of residents,” the organisation said in a statement on
Friday.
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Tsvingwe, administered by the Mutasa Rural District Council, is a formally established residential area where many residents have invested heavily in acquiring stands and building homes.
CNRG said the sudden introduction of mining activities has sparked anxiety and resistance among residents, who allege that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted or publicly disclosed before operations commenced.
The absence of an EIA, it noted, raises serious concerns about regulatory oversight, transparency, and accountability on the part of both the mining operator and relevant state authorities.
The resources watchdog further warned that ongoing mining activities threaten the structural integrity of the water reservoirs, putting residents at risk of water shortages, contamination and potential infrastructure collapse.
“Such outcomes would have devastating consequences for public health, livelihoods, and community wellbeing,” CNRG said.
The call from CNRG comes amid a nationwide surge in illegal mining activities that continue to damage the environment and endanger communities and wildlife.