Hillcrest School takes Toronto Mines to court over Christmas Pass mining activities

Hillcrest School in Mutare has approached the High Court seeking an urgent order compelling Toronto Mines to immediately stop gold‑mining activities in the once‑scenic Christmas Pass area, arguing that the operations are damaging the environment, disrupting learning and affecting nearby residents.


The application, filed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on behalf of the school, was lodged at the Mutare High Court. Hillcrest, which has operated for more than 41 years, is seeking an order directing Toronto Mines and other respondents to halt excavation and construction activities at Mt Sinai, Toronto, and to remove excavators, heavy machinery, processing equipment and other mining‑related tools pending lawful authorisation.

ZLHR lawyers Calexy Maunga (Jnr), Tatenda Sigauke and Dorothy Mutungura are representing the school.

According to the application, Hillcrest is concerned about what it describes as heightened open‑cast mining activities near its premises. The lawyers argue the operations are causing “significant disruption, disturbance and upheaval” to the school’s ability to discharge its educational mandate.

The school is also seeking an interdict against Toronto Mines, Calvar House Investments (Private) Limited, Maxwell Chad, Rosa Villa Investments (Private) Limited and Golden Cube Investments (Private) Limited, whether acting jointly or individually.

The order sought would restrain the respondents — including their employees, agents and contractors — from conducting or permitting mining, excavation, crushing, processing, mineral recovery, heap‑leaching or any other mining‑related activities at Mt Sinai, Toronto.

Hillcrest further wants the respondents barred from undertaking additional excavation, stockpiling material or constructing or using mining infrastructure without first securing all required statutory licences, permits, environmental approvals and other authorisations from relevant regulatory bodies.

The legal challenge places environmental protection and the preservation of a suitable learning environment at the centre of the dispute. The school argues that mining activities in its vicinity have created conditions incompatible with its educational operations.

The case also brings renewed attention to the growing conflict between mining interests and environmental, community and institutional concerns around Christmas Pass, an area long valued for its natural landscape.

Hillcrest School is asking the High Court to intervene before further mining and excavation take place at the site — a development that feeds into wider debates around environmental governance and mining regulation.