Mirror Reporter

Mberengwa – Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president and now CCC Parliamentary candidate for Mberengwa Central Constituency, Dr Takavafira Zhou has called for an urgent engagement between the people of Mberengwa and a mining company called Kuvimba to resolve the issue of alleged massive looting of lithium in the area.
He called on the people of Mberengwa to come together, unite and confront Kuvimba Mining House otherwise posterity is going to judge them harshly.
Speaking in an audio that he posted on social media this week, Zhou said the level of looting of the mineral without any benefit to the local communities is alarming.
He described it as irresponsible mining.
He alleged that Indians and Chinese were also looting K grade emeralds from these mines and they did so with the permission of Kuvimba.
Zhou said the quantity of minerals mined is not known, the money that is being fetched is not known and the destination of the minerals is also not known. He said Kuvimba claimed that it had invested US$5 million in the lithium mines but there is no sign of any investment.
He said that hundreds of trucks ply the district daily to ferry stripped lithium to unknown destinations. He said Kuvimba has destroyed roads and dust spews in villages, business centres and schools as the trucks go up and down the district.
The deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite kambumura said no issues have been raised with the ministry.
“We have not received a report over that matter. Our doors are always open to communities and then can file a complaint with the Provincial Mines Director,” said Kambumura.
Efforts to get a comment from Kuvimba Chief Executive Officer Simba Chinyemba were futile.
“The level of looting of lithium has reached unprecedented levels. This is a wake-up call for people of Mberengwa to unite, rise and confront Kuvimba so that there is a stop to this looting. We need responsible mining.
“I have been in Mberengwa for the past few days and I am shocked by the looting of lithium at Sandawana and Mataga,” said Zhou.