Chinese miners abandon Haroni river camp

Chinese nationals accused of causing extensive environmental damage through illegal riverbed mining along the Haroni River in Chimanimani's Rusitu Valley have reportedly abandoned their operations and vacated the area following growing public scrutiny and regulatory action.

Residents say the miners left behind only wooden cabins and perimeter fencing after removing heavy machinery, trucks and excavators from the contested site.

According to local sources, the last truck departed the area on May 15, leaving behind several mining tables along the banks of the Haroni River.

The departure comes weeks after a joint investigation with the Information for Development Trust (IDT) exposed the scale of environmental degradation allegedly linked to the mining activities.

The investigation, published on May 1 under the title *"Soldiers Help Chinese Gold Miners Invade Chimanimani as Conflict with Mozambicans Beckons,"* detailed allegations of widespread ecological destruction and growing tensions between local communities and the mining operation.

The report further alleged that more than 500 hectares of homes and arable land were earmarked for acquisition, with families who have occupied the area for generations reportedly facing relocation.

Local environmental campaigner and teacher Godfrey Hlabiso, who has led efforts to protect the Haroni River and surrounding communities, confirmed that the miners had left the area.

“They left a few days after the article was published,” Hlabiso said.

“All of their huge trucks have since been removed from the camp and only their cabins have been left behind. We are happy as a community about this development and hope the mining tables left behind along the banks of Haroni River will be removed.”

For many residents, the departure represents a significant victory in a long-running struggle to protect both the river ecosystem and ancestral land from further degradation.

The development comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of national disaster on 17 major rivers affected by siltation and mining activities across Zimbabwe.

The declaration includes the Haroni River and paves the way for emergency rehabilitation measures aimed at restoring damaged ecosystems and protecting strategic water resources.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri, said the declaration immediately halted unauthorised activities within affected river systems.

“The declaration means activities within the affected river systems are immediately halted except for operations authorised under the emergency rehabilitation programme,” said Jiri.

“Over the next 90 days, the focus is on stabilising river systems, restoring ecosystems and protecting strategic water bodies under serious threat.”

According to the ministry, the removal of illegal mining infrastructure and rehabilitation of damaged catchment areas feeding major dams will form part of the recovery programme.

The recently gazetted Statutory Instrument 91 of 2026 established the National Emergency Rehabilitation Programme (NERP), which will coordinate restoration efforts on rivers affected by mining-related degradation.

Among the rivers targeted are the Haroni River, Save River, Mazowe River, Sanyati River, Munyati River, Mupfure River, Umzingwane River, Insiza River and Mutare River.

For residents of Rusitu Valley, the focus now shifts from stopping environmental destruction to ensuring meaningful rehabilitation of the river ecosystem.

“Let the rehabilitation of Haroni River remain rehabilitation as we do not want to end up in another fight,” Hlabiso said.

“We would rather have Haroni River rehabilitate itself than host any other group that tries to do further damage.”

The departure of the miners has raised hopes among more than 3,500 affected families that the river and surrounding lands can begin recovering after years of environmental pressure and uncertainty over their future.