EnviroPress Reporter

Tensions are mounting in Bikita District as 12 Murape families face imminent eviction from their ancestral land to pave way for mining expansion by Bikita Minerals, but local Member of Parliament Nhatiso Makusha has vowed to resist what he calls a “gross violation of human rights and dignity.”

The families, some of whom have lived on the land for generations, received eviction notices from the lithium mining giant, which is seeking to extend its operations in the resource-rich area.

However, Makusha has stepped in to defend the affected households, accusing the company of riding roughshod over community rights.

“These are people’s homes, not just empty spaces on a map. We will not allow corporate interests to trample on the rights of vulnerable families. Development must never come at the cost of human displacement and suffering,” said Makusha.

According to community members, Bikita Minerals has not engaged in meaningful consultations or offered adequate relocation packages. Some families allege they were only informed of the intended evictions through word of mouth and formal letters issued without prior dialogue.

Makusha has since written to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, as well as the Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Office, demanding an immediate halt to the evictions until a fair and transparent relocation plan is put in place—if relocation is even necessary at all.

He argues that Bikita Minerals is in breach of both constitutional and customary obligations, particularly Section 13(4) of the Constitution, which mandates that communities must be consulted and benefit from resources extracted in their areas.

Makusha’s intervention has galvanized support from civil society organisations and human rights lawyers, who are now calling for a full-scale inquiry into Bikita Minerals’ land acquisition practices and their compliance with environmental and social governance (ESG) standards.