In April 2024, Mongabay published a report about local concerns being raised in connection to the largest lithium mine operating in Zimbabwe. Nearby villagers and mining workers accused the government and a Chinese mining company of sidelining environmental and social standards in the rush to extract and process lithium, one of the world’s most sought-after ‘energy transition’ minerals.
Mongabay’s investigation documented a series of spills, land conflicts, labor abuses, and a worker’s death, amid what locals and experts called weak or absent government oversight. Sources accused politicians of failing to enforce the country’s own laws and letting poor mining practices persist.
Although Zimbabwe promotes lithium extraction — an economic lifeline in a country burdened by debt and sanctions — reporter Tatenda Chitagu highlighted serious gaps between national policy and enforcement on the ground.
Experts note that while Chinese investments are guided by an increasingly robust set of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, in practice, these are often ineffective if host governments fail to demand compliance from their corporate partners.
Zimbabwe holds Africa’s largest lithium reserves, so the nation gets an important economic boost from the mineral often used to manufacture batteries. Mining it represents the country’s fastest growing industry, with companies from China comprising the largest share of investors.
