By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE – A coalition of residents’ groups and civil society organisations has accused the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) of failing to stop what it says is illegal mining at Christmas Pass Mountain, warning that continued excavation has placed nearby communities at risk of deadly mudslides.
In a joint statement issued on 20 July, the organisations alleged that mining activities had continued despite an EMA rehabilitation order requiring restoration work to be completed by 30 April 2026.
The statement was signed by Greater Toronto Residents Trust, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), Mutare River Rehabilitation Initiative, Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA), Buhera Residents Network Trust (BRNT), the Centre for Research and Policy Development in Africa (CPRDA), Masvingo Centre for Research and Community Development (MACRAD), Zivai Community Empowerment Trust (ZICET) and the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union (ZIDAWU).
The organisations accused the environmental regulator of failing to enforce environmental laws.
“We stand united in declaring that the mining operations currently devastating our landmark are illegal, dangerous, and a direct threat to the lives of our people,” the organisations said.
The coalition also alleged that EMA had failed to act after the expiry of its own rehabilitation deadline.
“By failing to act when the April 30 deadline passed, EMA is effectively shielding this criminality,” the statement said.
The organisations further accused the agency of allowing mining companies to continue operating under the guise of rehabilitation.
“We accuse EMA of being complicit in this disaster by failing to arrest perpetrators and by providing a veil of legitimacy to what is clearly an environmental crime.”
The groups said they had obtained an EMA letter dated 30 March 2026 addressed to Culverhouse Investments (Pvt) Ltd, which prohibited new excavations and required rehabilitation work to be completed by 30 April.
However, they alleged that mining had intensified instead.
“Today, nearly three months after the mandated deadline of April 30, we report that not only has no rehabilitation taken place, but the destruction has accelerated.”
According to the statement, vegetation has been stripped from the mountain, deep excavation scars have been created and no restoration work has been undertaken.
The coalition warned that the environmental damage could have serious consequences for communities living below the mountain.
“The structural integrity of Christmas Pass is now a ticking time bomb. Stripped of natural cover, these steep gradients pose a catastrophic risk of mudslides to the residents of Toronto and learners at Hillcrest School.”
The organisations argued that the mining activities violate Section 31C of the Mines and Minerals Act, which they say prohibits mining within city limits and near residential areas.
They called for an immediate halt to all mining operations, an investigation into EMA’s handling of the matter, criminal prosecution of those responsible and an independent safety audit of the mountain.
“The safety of our children, the health of our environment, and the preservation of our heritage are not for sale. We will not remain silent while our mountains are leveled for private profit at the expense of public safety.”
EMA has previously said it issued rehabilitation orders over activities at Christmas Pass. The agency had not publicly responded to the latest allegations contained in the joint statement at the time of publication.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Culverhouse Investments were unsuccessful before publication.