Editorial Note | The Weekly – 10th Edition
Development, in its most compelling form, promises progress, opportunity, and shared prosperity. Yet, as this edition of The Weekly reveals, the lived reality across many African communities tells a more complicated story, one where the gains of development are unevenly distributed, and its costs are often borne by those with the least power to negotiate them.
Our lead story on the Lubimbi community in Binga District forces a necessary reckoning. It situates present-day displacement within a longer historical arc, from the uprooting of Tonga communities during the Kariba Dam to the current pressures driven by the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and coal mining expansion. What emerges is not an isolated incident, but a pattern, one that raises uncomfortable questions about whether development, as currently practiced, is inclusive or extractive in nature. Lubimbi is not just at a crossroads; it is a mirror reflecting broader governance challenges in how decisions are made, whose voices count, and what is ultimately valued.
Across the region, similar tensions are unfolding. Malawi’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining illustrates a continent in transition, grappling with how to formalize vast informal sectors while responding to global demands for traceable and “clean” minerals. The shift toward securitization signals urgency, but it also underscores a risk: that enforcement may outpace the creation of fair and accessible systems for those whose livelihoods depend on informality.
Zimbabwe’s proposed Experimental Mine offers a different lens—one that attempts to address the roots of informality through skills, access, and market integration. It suggests that reform is possible when policy moves beyond control and toward inclusion. Yet even here, the question remains whether such initiatives will be scaled and anchored in justice, or remain isolated interventions within a broader system that still struggles with trust and equity.
This edition also highlights the growing importance of voices often sidelined in policy spaces. The reflections from youth eco-feminist training in Hwange remind us that climate justice is inseparable from gender justice, and that sustainable solutions must be grounded in the realities of those most affected. These perspectives are not peripheral—they are central to reimagining development pathways that are both resilient and fair.
Taken together, the stories in this issue converge on a single, urgent theme: the need to rethink development beyond infrastructure, output, and economic metrics. Development must be measured by its ability to sustain livelihoods, protect dignity, and distribute benefits equitably. It must recognise history, not erase it; include communities, not displace them; and build trust, not deepen divides.
As always, The Weekly seeks not only to inform, but to provoke reflection and dialogue. The questions raised here do not have simple answers but they demand honest engagement. If development is to retain its legitimacy, it must evolve into a process that is as just as it is ambitious.