Rutendo Chirume
Communities in Ward 12 of Buhera North are raising alarm over escalating dust pollution caused by increased traffic and mining activities at Sabi Star lithium mine, which residents say is posing serious health risks, damaging crops, and disrupting learning for over 2 000 school children.
According to Leonard Mabasa, director of the Buhera Residents Network Trust (BRNT), dust clouds from a 30-kilometre stretch of untarred road have become a daily menace for nearby schools, including Mukwasi Secondary, Mavangwe Primary and Secondary, St Albans Primary, and St Johns Primary and Secondary.
“This dust is more than an inconvenience—it’s a public health emergency. Children and teachers are breathing polluted air daily. We urgently call on the Ministry of Health to deploy mobile outreach teams to assess and treat respiratory illnesses in affected learners and community members,” said Mabasa.
Local livelihoods are also being severely impacted. Families who depend on small-scale gardening report that their crops are no longer thriving due to the thick layer of dust settling on plants and soil.
“Gardening is no longer feasible along this road. The dust coats everything—crops are stunted, fruit trees are not producing, and food security is under threat,” said Mabasa.
While BRNT is advocating for the tarring of the entire road as a long-term solution, Mabasa emphasized the immediate need for short-term dust suppression interventions, such as regular watering of the road to minimize airborne particles.
The residents’ organisation is calling for inclusive dialogue between the mining company, local authorities, and the affected communities to find lasting and sustainable solutions that safeguard both livelihoods and public health.
Sabi Star mine public relations officer Emerson Mangezi said they always spray water on the gravel road to curtail dust.
“As a mine we do not want to have a negative impact on the community and we have an open-door policy on issues to do with the welfare our community.
“We have been spraying dust on the gravel road to make sure that we do not have issues related to dust. We will keep spraying water on regular intervals to deal with the dust pollution,” said Mangezi.