Violence and Environmental Crisis at Zimbabwe’s Redwing Mine: CNRG Sounds Alarm
PENHALONGA – The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has issued a stark warning over escalating violence, unsafe mining practices, and severe environmental degradation linked to operations by Better Brands Mining Company at Redwing Mine in Penhalonga, Manicaland.
In an exclusive interview, CNRG Executive Director Farai Maguwu detailed how unlicensed mining activities involving politicians, security sector officials, and artisanal miners have evolved into a full-blown security crisis. The situation, he emphasized, is spiraling out of control, with violent clashes, extortion, and reckless digging becoming daily occurrences.
A Security Threat in the Heart of Manicaland
According to Maguwu, the involvement of high-profile individuals and state security agents in illicit mining has created a volatile environment where rule of law has been supplanted by intimidation and force. He cited a recent incident where six soldiers were assaulted by a group of eight men wearing Zanu-PF T-shirts adorned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait.
Eyewitnesses described the attackers—known locally as “boyz dzamudhara”—as “security-trained men” who employed military-style combat tactics during the altercation. This brazen attack on state security personnel underscores the audacity and impunity with which these groups operate.
Extortion and Political Patronage
Maguwu further revealed that certain groups are extorting “mutaka” (protection fees) from miners while invoking powerful political names. This practice not only destabilizes the area but also perpetuates a culture of fear and lawlessness.
“Unlicensed mining activities by politicians and members of the security sector in Penhalonga now pose a significant security threat,” Maguwu stated. “Violent clashes, extortion, and haphazard digging are now the order of the day. The Ministry of Mines is not involved—permits are being issued by Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brands.”
Environmental and Human Cost
Better Brands, owned by Zanu-PF Mabvuku MP and gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya, has been repeatedly accused of running unsafe and exploitative mining operations at Redwing Mine. Dozens of workers have reportedly died since the company began operating, with many accidents going unreported.
In one tragic incident in 2023, two employees drowned in underground floodwaters at Rezende Mine, part of the Redwing complex. Such accidents, Maguwu noted, are symptomatic of a broader disregard for safety and regulatory oversight.
Lack of Environmental Oversight
A 2022 petition by CNRG to the Ministry of Mines alleged that Better Brands introduced a production-sharing arrangement with artisanal miners without conducting a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The absence of engineering supervision and safety protocols has led to frequent mine shaft accidents, with at least five deaths recorded monthly.
“The environmental destruction unfolding in Penhalonga is now beyond redemption,” CNRG stated in its correspondence. “An Environmental Impact Assessment was never done for the new model of mining introduced by Better Brands, and subsequently, no environmental management plan is in place.”
Government Inaction and Broken Promises
The Ministry of Mines acknowledged receipt of CNRG’s petition in August 2022, promising to consult relevant parties before providing a substantive response. However, civil society groups say no meaningful action has been taken to date.
Redwing Mine, historically one of Zimbabwe’s most productive gold mines, produced 1.1 million ounces of gold between 1966 and 2004 under Metallon Corporation. Today, critics argue, the current informalized mining model has transformed the mine into a hotspot for fatalities, illicit gold flows, and violent conflict.
Broader Implications for Zimbabwe’s Gold Sector
A CNRG report titled Zimbabwe’s Disappearing Gold: The Case of Mazowe and Penhalonga further alleged that Sakupwanya’s operations are part of a wider political network facilitating illicit financial flows estimated at US$1.9 billion annually. This raises serious questions about governance, accountability, and the role of political elites in resource exploitation.
Maguwu concluded with a urgent plea: “The situation in Penhalonga has seriously degenerated and needs an urgent solution. Government needs a proper investor to take over Penhalonga. The Better Brands model is a security threat and environmental disaster.”
What Lies Ahead?
As violence continues to escalate and environmental damage mounts, the future of Penhalonga—and indeed, Zimbabwe’s mining sector—hangs in the balance. Will the government intervene to restore order and accountability, or will political and economic interests continue to override human lives and ecological integrity?
For now, the people of Penhalonga remain caught in the crossfire of greed, violence, and neglect—a stark reminder of the human cost of unregulated resource extraction.