This edition of The Weekly explores the defining governance questions shaping Zimbabwe’s extractive sector at a time when the country’s vast mineral wealth is attracting unprecedented global attention.
From the communities of Buhera taking their grievances to Parliament, to the Government’s investment in lithium testing laboratories, the country is entering a new phase in the governance of its critical minerals. The global energy transition has transformed lithium, diamonds and other strategic resources into assets of immense geopolitical and economic value. Yet for many Zimbabweans living closest to these deposits, the promises of development remain elusive.
Our lead stories illustrate two sides of the same debate. On one hand, the establishment of modern mineral testing laboratories represents an important step towards asserting greater national control over the value of Zimbabwe’s resources. A nation that cannot accurately measure what it extracts cannot fully capture the wealth beneath its soil. But technology alone cannot deliver justice. Scientific capacity must be accompanied by transparency, accountability and institutions capable of ensuring that mineral wealth translates into public benefit.
At the same time, the petition presented by communities in Buhera reminds us that governance is ultimately measured not in policy announcements but in people’s lived experiences. Access to clean water, safe working conditions, secure livelihoods and meaningful participation in decisions affecting local communities remain fundamental tests of responsible mining. Parliamentary oversight now presents an opportunity for these concerns to receive the scrutiny they deserve.
Beyond mining, this edition also reflects on the broader environmental challenges shaping our future. As extreme heat increasingly threatens global food production, climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue but an economic one. The same governance failures that allow environmental degradation around mines also weaken society’s ability to adapt to a rapidly changing climate.
Contributors in this issue argue persuasively that evidence is no longer the problem. Zimbabwe has accumulated substantial research documenting the social, economic and environmental impacts of extractive industries. The challenge now lies in translating that evidence into policy, stronger institutions and meaningful accountability. Whether discussing community participation, the protection of environmental human rights defenders or local beneficiation, a common thread emerges: sustainable development requires placing people at the centre of resource governance.
Zimbabwe possesses extraordinary natural wealth. The defining question is whether that wealth will finance broad-based development or continue to enrich only a narrow few. The answer will depend less on the minerals beneath the ground than on the quality of the institutions above it.
As always, The Weekly seeks to contribute to informed public debate by examining the intersection of natural resources, governance, environmental justice and sustainable development. We hope this edition encourages reflection, dialogue and, above all, action.