Mining depleting health in Zimbabwe's rural communities

In the sun-drenched fields of Goromonzi and Buhera, where crops once thrived under the care of resilient farmers, a silent crisis is unfolding.

As lithium mining operations expand, underground aquifers are being drained at alarming rates - leaving villagers without reliable access to clean water and exposing them to rising health risks.

Local clinics and health workers are reporting an increase in cases of diarrhoea, malaria and other waterborne diseases, a situation experts link to unsustainable water extraction and climate change.

"Rural communities often lack the resources and capacity to effectively address the health impacts of resource extraction projects like lithium mining," said community health specialist Dr Nyasha Masuka.

According to researchers, excessive industrial water usage has depleted groundwater sources, creating stagnant pools that favour disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes.

"There's a clear link," said public health researcher Chipo Mutambo. "As water scarcity worsens during heat waves, so do the risks of infectious diseases."

The problem goes beyond health. In many villages, agriculture has been crippled and basic sanitation compromised as families struggle to access clean water for drinking, cooking and washing.

"Children are particularly vulnerable," said Anita Shoko, a community health worker in Goromonzi. "Without access to clean water, they are more prone to diarrhoea and cholera."

The high cost of water purification has further deepened the crisis. With households unable to afford purification tablets or filters, unsafe water consumption has become commonplace.

Meanwhile, the erosion of indigenous knowledge systems - traditional methods of predicting rainfall, locating safe wells, and managing community health - has weakened local resilience.

"We used to read the signs of our environment," said Buhera village elder, Tendai Chitibu. "Now, it feels like we're losing touch with our roots."

Experts such as Community Working Group on Health director Itai Rusike believe integrating local knowledge with modern science could strengthen community responses.

"Communities must be empowered to reconnect with their heritage," Rusike said. "Indigenous knowledge can be a powerful tool in combating climate-related health threats."

But poor health surveillance and limited data remain major barriers. "Without reliable data, we cannot fully understand the relationship between climate change, mining and disease," Mutambo said.

Experts warn that urgent action is needed - from tightening mining water regulations to investing in rural health infrastructure.

"The health crisis unfolding in Goromonzi and Buhera is a stark reminder that water, climate and public health are deeply connected," said Masuka. "We must act now before the damage becomes irreversible."