Cracks in the walls, cracks in their lives: Goromonzi women bear the cost of mining
By Florence Kayungwa Climate and Environment Journalist For Janet Mukarati, the sound of blasting from…
Cracks in the walls, cracks in their lives: Goromonzi women bear the cost of mining
By Florence Kayungwa Climate and Environment Journalist For Janet Mukarati, the sound of blasting from nearby mining operations has become a source of fear. In Chibamu village, Goromonzi, Mukarati says repeated blasting at nearby mines has caused cracks to appear in her house, leaving her worried about the safety of her family and uncertain about…
Mercury and misery: The cost of gold mining in Shamva
By Florence Kayungwa | Climate and Environmental Journalist Women artisanal miners in Shamva say they will continue using mercury in gold processing despite its known health and environmental dangers, arguing that mining remains their main source of income. Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small scale mining sector accounts for a significant share of the country’s gold production….
Zimbabwe moves to replace 37-year-old Civil Protection Act as climate risks expose weaknesses in response system
Zimbabwe is preparing to replace its 37-year-old Civil Protection Act with a new Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Bill, a legislative reform that aims to transform the country’s approach to disasters from emergency response to risk prevention and resilience building. During the Zimbabwe Youth Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction in Harare, Deputy Minister of Local Government…
Calls grow for youth to take leading role in disaster risk management
Young people must be given a seat at the table if Zimbabwe is to build resilience against growing climate and disaster risks. That was the message from this year’s third Zimbabwe Youth Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction. The event was hosted by the Zimbabwe Resilience Network in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and…
Africa’s energy crisis is becoming a climate justice battle as campaigners push for renewable power for all
For millions of Africans, the climate crisis is not only about rising temperatures, droughts or extreme weather. It is also about whether they can switch on a light, cook a meal or power a small business. Across a continent where more than 600 million people still lack reliable access to electricity, campaigners are increasingly framing…
A wetland, a football pitch and a community refusing to give up
Every afternoon, as the clock edges towards 4:30 p.m., young men begin gathering on a football pitch carved into the Monavale Wetland on the western edge of Harare. For years, the ground has been a meeting place for residents, a recreational space for young people and, for many, a refuge from the pressures of everyday…
Zimbabwe’s critical minerals boom risks leaving communities behind
Zimbabwe’s vast reserves of lithium, platinum, chrome and coal have placed the country at the centre of the global race for minerals needed to power electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. Yet concerns are growing that communities living in mineral-rich areas are bearing the costs of extraction while receiving few of its benefits. At the…
Leaving no one behind means no one should be sacrifed for government revenue- Farai Maguwu
Women from mining-affected communities across Zimbabwe called for stronger protections of land rights, water resources and community participation in the country’s growing critical minerals sector at the Women in Critical Minerals Summit 2026 held in Harare. The two-day summit, organised by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG Zimbabwe), brought together women leaders, community representatives,…
Monavale Wetland standoff exposes clash between Harare’s growth and its fragile ecological future
In the early morning light, the Monavale Vlei Wetland still breathes. Reeds, grass sway above shallow water channels. Birds cut across the skyline. The ground beneath the grass remains soft and waterlogged despite the dry season creeping into Harare. For decades, the wetland has quietly performed the work most residents in other parts of Harare…
Zimbabwe turns inward on climate funding as global support wavers
As uncertainty deepens around global climate financing, Zimbabwe is increasingly looking inward to fund its response to the climate crisis, with officials pushing for a new National Climate Fund designed to mobilise domestic and international support for adaptation efforts. The proposed fund, which sits at the centre of the country’s draft Climate Change Management Bill,…
