By Staff Reporter
RENCO Mine – For more than 50 years, Renco Mine operated underground, coexisting
peacefully with locals who lived and farmed on the surface. But the recent gold rush that drew
thousands of people from across Masvingo province and beyond has forced the company to shift
focus to surface mining, a move that villagers now fear will strip them of a mountain that
sustained them for generations.
The mountain, which cleaves Chiponda and Muvango villages, is not just a landmark, it is
central to the survival of surrounding communities.
Its summit was a flatland where children scraped together a football pitch. Its sloping sides were
adventure rails where youngsters would strip bark from mutondo trees to sled down the rocks.
A famous rock called Svimborume faces Chiponda Village, and from an scenic outcrop above it,
one could see Muzenda, Chitorido, Muchibwa, and the sprawling farmlands of Mushawasha.
Headman Muchibwa Maseko Manyise confirmed to TellZim News that mine representatives had
visited his palace to notify them of the intention to fence off parts the mountain.
The communication prompted villagers from Chiponda, Muvango, Muzondo, Ruchicha,
Chinoda, Muzenda and other surrounding areas to gather at Muchibwa Business Centre to
discuss the way forward.
The surface mining plan raises a host of challenges. Locals fear environmental hazards, dust, and
chemicals that could affect surrounding villages.
The mountain serves as grazing land, a source of firewood, a hunting ground for small animals,
and a place to harvest, mopane worms, madora (Predominatly found in Mopane trees in other
areas) but largely found in Mutondo trees in Nyajena and gather mushrooms during the rainy
season.
People also get poles for fencing, kraals, and tree bark ropes for different domestic purposes.
Fencing off the mountain would cut off access to these vital resources.
Beyond the economic concerns, the mountain holds deep religious and spiritual significance.
Forefathers were buried there. Local leaders say they used the mountain for spiritual activities,
including appeasing their ancestors. According to tradition, the mountain together with other
surrounding mountains, was used since the establishment of the mine to appeal to the ancestors
to release the gold. For decades, there was unity and harmony between the mine and the locals.
That harmony, villagers fear, is now at risk.
The mine previously attempted open, cast mining on another mountain close to Chebundi but
was stopped after allegedly violating some graves. That forced the company to shift its focus to
the eastern mountain, Chebundi.
The need was necessitated by the gold panners who were allegedly making a killing on the
mountain, and the mine felt it was losing revenue from its own claim.
However, locals argue that the mine should remain underground and allow the community to
benefit from the surface gold.
During the meeting, concerns were also raised about the mine’s use of drones to monitor areas,
particularly in Muvango down to Mutirikwi River. Villagers claim the drones fly over bathing
spots in streams, exposing naked women, an intrusion they find deeply offensive.
Some locals accused the newly appointed Chief Nyajena of allowing the mine to fence off the
mountain, saying there were people among them who were siding with the mine.
“The reason why they are so adamant is that they got permission from the chief. He is the one
who signed a document to allow them to fence the mountain,” said one villager.
However, contacted by TellZim News, Chief Nyajena, born Last Dzivakwe, said that was not
true. He said he never signed anything and claimed that his forefathers were also buried in the
mountain, so any harm to the mountain also affects him.
“I never signed anything, nor have I been contacted by the mine about this. I actually heard about
it from Headman Muchibwa, so there is no way I can be accused of allowing the mine to fence
the mountain.
What people forget is that the other part of the mountain is in Muvango Village. Muvango is
from the Mupandasekwa house, so our forefathers were also buried in that mountain,” said Chief
Nyajena.
He said under normal circumstances, if he had authorised that, he would be getting backlash
from his clansmen, the Muvangos, because that would desecrate their ancestors. The chief also
said he had no much power over the mine because it has its claims but he only interferes when
operations affect locals.
“Remember, Muvango is not from the Muchibwa house, so they are my clansmen, and I don’t
think if I had authorised that, they would be smiling at me now,” he said.
He also said from his understanding, the mine had no intention of fencing off the whole
mountain, but only some sections where they were operating. He said that was part of an
agreement they had when they sat down at some point with the Muchibwas.
“From my understanding, they are following what we agreed with them together with Headman
Muchibwa and other local leaders. We told the mine to fence all the areas they operate from so
that animals won’t wander into their operating sites,” said the chief.
Contacted for comment, Renco Mine General Manager Tapiwa Katiyo referred questions to the
Head of Corporate Affairs Executive at Rio Zim Limited, Wilson Gwatiringa, who concurred
with Chief Nyajena, saying they were fencing their areas of operations.
“What I know is that we are fencing some areas that are within the mine’s claim and where we
are operating,” said Gwatiringa.
Tales of mountains being devoured by mining are common in areas like Shurugwi, where hills
that stood for generations have been eaten away.
The thought of Chebundi suffering the same fate is a painful one for locals. The mountain also
serves as a sanctuary for wildlife, leopards and baboons that often cross to Chebundi from
Munguma Mountain for safety would lose their refuge.
Another fear is displacement. Some villagers, especially from Muvango and Chiponda, live very
close to the mountain and could be affected before excavations even begin.
If the project moves forward and they are forced to leave, will they be compensated enough to
start afresh? What will happen to the remains of their ancestors in the mountain and at its foot?
At the meeting, villagers resolved to select representatives to engage the mine. They demanded
that the company approach them properly, notify them of the plans, and outline measures to help
locals.
They called for a win-win negotiation. Some proposed that the mine set up mills and allow
organised panning, where local panners would mill their ore and sell to the mine, a model similar
to Tongaat Hulett’s arrangement with outgrower sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi.
Others insisted the mine should remain underground and allow the community to benefit from
the surface gold, arguing that the mountain has been their source of livelihood long before the
mine arrived.
“The mine has been underground for 50 years, and we have coexisted peacefully. Why change
now? Let them stay underground and allow us to benefit from the surface gold,” said one
villager.
The gold rush has already spread along the mountain range, eastward in Chiponda and westward
to Maramba and Nyajena.
