Bikita Mine Faces Renewed Protests Over Employment Of Locals
Centre News Hub
BIKITA – Fresh protests by youths at Bikita Minerals this week have reignited long-standing grievances over employment, with communities accusing the lithium mining giant of repeatedly sidelining locals in favour of people from other districts.
More than 100 youths demonstrated at the mine, expressing anger over what they described as systematic exclusion from job opportunities despite the operation being based in their community.
The youth from political parties, local civic society, and community allege systematic, selective employment by the mine, leaving them to wallow in the jaws of poverty.
Speaking with some youths who were among the demonstrators says that they have been complaining to the mine about this issue, and it seems like there is no change within the company.
“This is not the first time we are raising this issue, and we have been complaining for a long time, but nothing changes,” said one of the protesting youths.
The latest unrest reflects a pattern of recurring tensions at the mine, where similar concerns over local employment opportunities have been raised in the past without resolution.
The recurrence of the dispute now points to what community members say is a persistent pattern of neglect, raising questions about the mine’s commitment to inclusive development.
Residents argue that while Bikita is home to one of Zimbabwe’s key lithium deposits, the economic benefits are not being felt at the grassroots level, particularly among unemployed youths.
“We expected this mine to change our lives, but instead we are watching others come and take the opportunities,” another youth said during the demonstration.
Youth organisation, Bikita Institute of Land Development (BILAD), Director, Mountain Mujakachi, hailed the youth for standing up against injustices.
“We took part in the demonstration because we feel it’s not fair for the mine to sideline locals when there are job opportunities, since they are operating in our district, they should give first preference to locals so that they benefit from local resources,” said Mujakachi.
Efforts to get a comment from Bikita Minerals Public Relations Officer, Tinomuda Chakanyuka, were unsuccessful as he had not yet responded to the questions sent to his email.
These tensions are becoming common in resource-rich areas where communities feel excluded from the benefits of extraction, often leading to repeated conflict between investors and locals.
As Zimbabwe’s lithium sector continues to attract international investment, the situation in Bikita highlights the growing pressure on mining companies to balance profit-making with community expectations before frustrations boil over again.
