News / National
Giant lithium miner displaces villagers in Zimbabwe
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A tense standoff is unfolding in Bikita, where eight families settled on George Nollen Farm under Chief Marozva in the year 2000, as part of Zimbabwe's land reform programme, are now facing eviction. The relocation is being prompted by Bikita Minerals Pvt Ltd, a lithium mining company, which asserts that the land occupied by the families falls within its lease area.
The families, who have been residing in the area for over two decades, are caught in a dispute that pits their right to shelter and land against the commercial interests of the mining company. The company's claim has raised concerns about the future of the farmers, who have been cultivating the land as part of the country's land reform process.
Chief Marozva confirmed the development, noting that the matter requires broader consultation. He explained that legal positions are being taken and a range of potential solutions, including the possibility of creating memorandums of agreement, are under consideration. However, he refrained from preempting the situation, as the processes are still ongoing.
"Eight families face eviction by the company and the situation requires broader consultation and legal positions taken," Chief Marozva said. "We cannot pre-empt it now since we still have some processes to be completed on the side of my appointment."
Bikita District Development Coordinator Bernard Hadzirabwi clarified that the mining company would cover all costs associated with the relocation of the affected families. He confirmed that the affected villagers, including residents like Adonia Togara, Loice Tsinyamai, Rejoice Ruvengo, Deliwe Ncube, and Caroline Zinyemba, will be moved to another area.
"What happened is the villagers occupied the area which was reserved for Bikita Minerals and the company will literally pay for all relocation costs," Hadzirabwi stated.
The affected families expressed a mix of emotions about the upcoming move, with some resigned to the situation, while others voiced their concerns over the fairness of the process.
"It is really hard to be evicted, but we do not have any other option," said Caroline Zinyemba, one of the affected residents. "We just hope we will be compensated fairly since we are the affected ones. Mostly these people make promises they cannot fulfil."
Loice Tsinyamai, another resident, appealed to the government for intervention, fearing that their relocation may not be handled justly.
"We hope that the government will rescue us from this eviction, but we heard that they are working closely with the miners," Tsinyamai said. "The mining company is giving us pressure to evict the area. We hope that we will be relocated to a better place."
Bikita Rural District Council Ward 11 Councillor Lawrence Vhovha confirmed that the matter has been reported to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), with hopes that legal representation will help resolve the issue in favor of the affected families.
"We reported the case to the ZLHR, and we hope they will resolve the matter," Vhovha said.
The legal fight surrounding the eviction has drawn attention from various rights groups, with Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) voicing concerns about the government's responsibility to protect its citizens from arbitrary eviction. In a statement, COTRAD emphasized the importance of respecting the constitutional rights of the affected individuals, particularly the right to shelter and agricultural land.
"The government should respect and fulfill fundamental human rights set out in the statutes, in particular the right to freedom from arbitrary evictions, the right to shelter and the right to agricultural land," COTRAD stated.
Meanwhile, in Malipati, Ward 15 of Chiredzi South district, residents are also voicing fears of evictions due to pressure from third-party investors. However, after community dialogue meetings organized by COTRAD, the residents were empowered to approach legal representatives to fight back against the forced evictions.
A letter from Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners, dated May 1, 2025, highlights the coercion of villagers by the village head to donate their land to third-party investors. The legal team demanded that the village head stop pressuring residents into land deals that violate national land laws and principles of consent.
The eviction plans, which involve erecting fences and employing security guards to prevent landowners from accessing their land, have escalated tensions in the affected areas. The imposition of these measures is seen as a violation of the villagers' socio-cultural and economic rights, undermining their traditional livelihoods and rights to land.
"Evictions in Zimbabwe have been characterised by excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against settlers," the letter warned, noting the potential for escalation in both Bikita and Malipati.
As both disputes unfold, it remains to be seen how the Zimbabwean government will balance the interests of mining companies with the rights of citizens who have lived on the land for decades. Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on local authorities and civil rights groups to safeguard the affected communities' rights to their land.
The families, who have been residing in the area for over two decades, are caught in a dispute that pits their right to shelter and land against the commercial interests of the mining company. The company's claim has raised concerns about the future of the farmers, who have been cultivating the land as part of the country's land reform process.
Chief Marozva confirmed the development, noting that the matter requires broader consultation. He explained that legal positions are being taken and a range of potential solutions, including the possibility of creating memorandums of agreement, are under consideration. However, he refrained from preempting the situation, as the processes are still ongoing.
"Eight families face eviction by the company and the situation requires broader consultation and legal positions taken," Chief Marozva said. "We cannot pre-empt it now since we still have some processes to be completed on the side of my appointment."
Bikita District Development Coordinator Bernard Hadzirabwi clarified that the mining company would cover all costs associated with the relocation of the affected families. He confirmed that the affected villagers, including residents like Adonia Togara, Loice Tsinyamai, Rejoice Ruvengo, Deliwe Ncube, and Caroline Zinyemba, will be moved to another area.
"What happened is the villagers occupied the area which was reserved for Bikita Minerals and the company will literally pay for all relocation costs," Hadzirabwi stated.
The affected families expressed a mix of emotions about the upcoming move, with some resigned to the situation, while others voiced their concerns over the fairness of the process.
"It is really hard to be evicted, but we do not have any other option," said Caroline Zinyemba, one of the affected residents. "We just hope we will be compensated fairly since we are the affected ones. Mostly these people make promises they cannot fulfil."
Loice Tsinyamai, another resident, appealed to the government for intervention, fearing that their relocation may not be handled justly.
"We hope that the government will rescue us from this eviction, but we heard that they are working closely with the miners," Tsinyamai said. "The mining company is giving us pressure to evict the area. We hope that we will be relocated to a better place."
Bikita Rural District Council Ward 11 Councillor Lawrence Vhovha confirmed that the matter has been reported to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), with hopes that legal representation will help resolve the issue in favor of the affected families.
"We reported the case to the ZLHR, and we hope they will resolve the matter," Vhovha said.
The legal fight surrounding the eviction has drawn attention from various rights groups, with Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) voicing concerns about the government's responsibility to protect its citizens from arbitrary eviction. In a statement, COTRAD emphasized the importance of respecting the constitutional rights of the affected individuals, particularly the right to shelter and agricultural land.
"The government should respect and fulfill fundamental human rights set out in the statutes, in particular the right to freedom from arbitrary evictions, the right to shelter and the right to agricultural land," COTRAD stated.
Meanwhile, in Malipati, Ward 15 of Chiredzi South district, residents are also voicing fears of evictions due to pressure from third-party investors. However, after community dialogue meetings organized by COTRAD, the residents were empowered to approach legal representatives to fight back against the forced evictions.
A letter from Matutu and Mureri legal practitioners, dated May 1, 2025, highlights the coercion of villagers by the village head to donate their land to third-party investors. The legal team demanded that the village head stop pressuring residents into land deals that violate national land laws and principles of consent.
The eviction plans, which involve erecting fences and employing security guards to prevent landowners from accessing their land, have escalated tensions in the affected areas. The imposition of these measures is seen as a violation of the villagers' socio-cultural and economic rights, undermining their traditional livelihoods and rights to land.
"Evictions in Zimbabwe have been characterised by excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement against settlers," the letter warned, noting the potential for escalation in both Bikita and Malipati.
As both disputes unfold, it remains to be seen how the Zimbabwean government will balance the interests of mining companies with the rights of citizens who have lived on the land for decades. Meanwhile, the pressure is mounting on local authorities and civil rights groups to safeguard the affected communities' rights to their land.
Source - the standard
