Christmas Pass mining sparks outrage

Civil society organisations have sounded the alarm over alleged mining operations at Mutare's iconic Christmas Pass Mountain, warning that the activities pose severe environmental and safety risks to nearby communities, schools, and water bodies.

The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) director, Farai Maguwu, told Chipinge Times that the mining - reportedly being carried out by some Chinese nationals - threatens lives and infrastructure due to its location and method of extraction.

"We have a law. Section 73 of the Constitution says every citizen has a right to live in an environment that is not harmful to their health. So what is happening at Christmas Pass is that the Chinese are mining high up the mountain. Beneath that mountain there is a residential area where people have bought properties," Maguwu said.

He revealed that the mining being undertaken is open-cast, a method known for destabilising landscapes and increasing the risk of mudslides.

"The type of mining they are doing is open-cast mining where they are just ripping open the mountain, throwing debris all over the place. When it rains, mudslides are a sure thing to happen and at a great cost to those people who are further down the mountain," Maguwu warned.

The CNRG director further noted that the operations could have devastating effects on Mutare River and other downstream water bodies, including Odzi and Sabe rivers, by polluting and destabilising aquatic ecosystems.

He also raised concern over the safety of educational institutions located near the site.
"To the far right of this mining activity, there is a very iconic group of schools - Hillcrest College, Hillcrest Primary and Hillcrest Secondary - which all risk coming under the barrage of mudslides from the mountain," Maguwu said.

Residents of Toronto suburb, located at the foot of the mountain, have reportedly petitioned the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), citing danger to their lives and properties. However, no action has been taken so far.

"We have talked with the residents in Toronto. They have petitioned EMA Mutare concerning the unsafe situation they find themselves in. But EMA has not responded," Maguwu said.

Efforts to get a comment from EMA were unsuccessful, while the Ministry of Mines had not responded to inquiries by the time of publication.

Maguwu criticised government agencies for what he described as weak enforcement of environmental laws and poor interdepartmental coordination.

"If all government departments were functioning, I think some people must be arrested for what they are doing at Christmas Pass. It is an ecologically sensitive place," he said.

Christmas Pass, which serves as a scenic gateway into Mutare, is one of the city's most recognisable landmarks and holds deep cultural and historical significance. The ongoing mining, environmentalists warn, could permanently scar the mountain and alter the city's natural heritage.