04/06/2026
Church, Communities and Stakeholders Unite to Seek Justice for Mining-Affected Communities
By SOCCOM Reporter
HARARE – The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJPZ) concluded a two-day National Conference on Dialogue and Mediation in Mining-Affected Areas at Africa Synod House in Harare on 4 June 2026, bringing together Church leaders, government officials, mining communities, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, academics, and development partners to deliberate on the social, environmental, and economic challenges associated with extractive activities.
Held under the theme “Promoting Peace, Environmental Justice and Community Resilience in the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA Region)”, the conference sought to amplify the voices of mining-affected communities, foster dialogue among stakeholders, and develop practical commitments aimed at preventing conflicts and promoting sustainable development.
Both days of the conference began with the celebration of Holy Mass which was led by the bishop chair of CCJPZ, Right Reverend Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro, underscoring the Church’s conviction that efforts to promote justice, peace, and care for creation must be rooted in faith. He urged participants to become advocates of peace and justice through holistic approaches that address both human and environmental concerns.
In his keynote and welcome address, Bishop Nyandoro described the gathering as more than an ordinary conference, calling it “a sacred convocation” where the Church, government, civil society, and communities came together to discern the signs of the times and respond with justice and compassion. He emphasised that mining should be viewed not merely as an economic activity but as a moral and spiritual responsibility.
“We gather here at Africa Synod House not merely as stakeholders in mining, but as stewards of creation and shepherds of God’s people,” Bishop Nyandoro said, adding that the conference was intended to listen to both “the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor.”
Drawing on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, Bishop Nyandoro reminded participants that environmental degradation and social injustice are inseparable challenges.
“The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are inseparable,” he said, urging stakeholders to embrace what Pope Francis calls an “ecological conversion” that recognises mining as both a moral and spiritual challenge.
Speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference Secretary General, Fr. Tryvis Moyo, C.Ss.R., the National Coordinator of CCJPZ, Mr Paul Muchena, delivered a keynote address on extractive governance and sustainable development in Africa. Fr. Moyo highlighted the paradox of Africa’s abundant mineral wealth coexisting with widespread poverty, displacement, and environmental degradation.
“Africa is a continent blessed with immense mineral wealth including gold, diamonds, lithium, platinum and rare earths. Yet paradoxically, many of our communities remain impoverished, displaced and environmentally degraded,” Fr. Moyo observed.
He cited examples from across the continent, including Zimbabwe’s own mining regions, where communities have often borne the costs of extraction without enjoying proportional benefits.
“In Hwange, coal mining has displaced families and endangered wildlife, while granite extraction in Mutoko has scarred the land with little benefit to locals,” he noted.
Fr. Moyo stressed that extractive governance must be anchored in transparency, accountability, community participation, environmental stewardship, and regional cooperation if mining is to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Representing the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), speakers challenged governments, mining companies, and other stakeholders to ensure that communities living near natural resources are not left behind in development.
The SECAM Justice, Peace and Development Commission noted that while Africa possesses abundant mineral wealth, extraction activities have frequently resulted in environmental destruction, forced displacement, inequality, and social fragmentation.
“Too often, communities living closest to these natural resources bear the greatest burden while receiving the least benefits,” the SECAM representative said. “Women and children walk longer distances because rivers are polluted. Young people lose livelihoods and hope due to land degradation and unemployment.”
The representative further urged stakeholders to embrace dialogue and mediation as pathways to reconciliation and sustainable peace, insisting that development must not come at the expense of human dignity, social justice, or environmental sustainability.
Throughout the conference, participants heard testimonies from representatives of mining-affected communities from Hwange, Mutare, Mutoko, and Seke, who shared experiences of environmental degradation, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and social disruption linked to extractive activities. The programme also featured presentations from government ministries, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), mining sector representatives, civil society organisations, and Church leaders.
Discussions explored the legal and policy frameworks governing mining, community consultation processes, environmental protection measures, youth employment opportunities, and mechanisms for strengthening transparency and accountability in the sector.
On the second day, participants engaged in structured dialogue roundtables focusing on community–mining company engagement, environmental protection and natural resource management, youth employment, and community participation in mining governance. The sessions culminated in action planning and the adoption of a conference communiqué intended to guide future engagement and collaboration across the IMBISA region.
The conference concluded with a renewed call for dialogue, responsible stewardship of natural resources, and greater participation of local communities in decisions affecting their lands and livelihoods.
As participants departed, the central message remained clear: sustainable peace and development in mining areas can only be achieved when economic growth is balanced with environmental justice, human dignity, and the active involvement of the communities most affected by extractive activities.
