Zimbabwean military faces scrutiny for illegal gold mining operations

Rusununguko/Nkululeko Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a company owned by the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF), is allegedly carrying out an unauthorized alluvial gold mining operation in Allied Timbers’ Tarka Forest, located in Chimanimani. An investigation by The Explorer and The NewsHawks found that these activities are taking place without the company’s consent and are not subject to a required environmental impact assessment (EIA), raising concerns about environmental degradation and possible violations of the law.

The investigation indicates that Rusununguko began mining operations in the area in March 2024, sparking outrage from environmental stakeholders. Chimanimani is a designated UNESCO Human and Biosphere Heritage Site, recognized as a Biosphere Reserve in 2021, intended to support sustainable development and promote a harmonious relationship between human communities and nature. The site’s current status highlights its role in scientific research, environmental education and ecotourism, all of which are threatened by mining activities.

Environmentalists and local villagers have expressed concerns about the negative impact of Rusununguko’s operations, which would contribute to river pollution and ecological damage. The company is said to have entered into a vague partnership with Chinese nationals, which would further complicate the situation.

Chimanimani’s operations appear to be an extension of Rusununguko’s activities in Nyamukwarara, a remote area close to the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border. There, the company formed a controversial partnership with Lebanese and Chinese investors in September 2023. Like Chimanimani, Nyamukwarara is rich in timber and minerals, including gold.

A Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) memorandum, dated September 11, 2023, raises serious security concerns regarding Rusununguko operations. The document highlights the irregular nature of the company’s activities and highlights the opening of a previously undesignated route from Mozambique to the mining site. This new corridor would facilitate smuggling activities and could attract illegal miners, smugglers, money launderers and even insurgents.

The memorandum notes that Rusununguko opened a route to transport mining equipment from Mozambique to the project site, in partnership with a company called Mutare Project Cooperation, registered in Mozambique but not Zimbabwe. The company is managed by the Lebanese El Fakih Hussein and the Chinese Ren Wei.

The IOC memo ends with a warning to headquarters about the potential risks associated with Rusununguko’s activities, highlighting the need for increased monitoring and intervention.

As the situation evolves, the implications for both environmental conservation and the well-being of the Chimanimani community remain critical, calling for urgent action by the authorities to address the alleged illegal mining operations and their associated consequences. associated consequences.