‘Chinese Scramble For Zim’s Chrome Leaves Communal Lands Scarred’ 13 March 2022

A scramble for Zimbabwean chrome by Chinese miners has left a trail of destruction on the environment along the Great Dyke where abandoned pits are posing a deadly threat to human life and livestock. Increasing demand for chrome on the international market has spurred a rush by both local and Chinese companies to set up operations to mine the sought-after mineral in some Midlands districts. Zimbabwe boasts the world’s second largest chrome reserves behind South Africa. Chrome is a blackish mineral used in the production of stainless steel. The product is in demand in Asia, particularly in China and Singapore. Most of the chrome mines are dotted along the Great Dyke, a narrow series of long, low ridges and hills stretching for about 515km from near Harare into the Midlands.

…Offenders range from local small-scale miners contracted by Chinese middlemen to the country’s ferrochrome giants — Zimbabwe Mining and Alloy Smelting Company (Zimasco) and ZimAlloys. The Chinese have a major shareholding in Zimasco while ZimAlloys had a partnership with a Chinese firm that ended last year, but the company still exports large quantities of chrome to the Asian country. Sinosteel Corporation, China’s second largest iron ore trader, has a 73% stake in Zimasco, which it acquired in 2007, according to the Asian country’s National Development and Reform Commission. On the other hand, ZimAlloys entered into a partnership with Chinese based company, Jinan in 2014.

…David Xuegong Zhou, Jinan and Almed’ group CEO, said allegations that they were responsible for land degradation in the Midlands were not true as they were not involved in any mining. “I don’t understand what you mean. Jinan (are) smelters and are not into mining,” Zhou said. …Clara Sadomba, the Zimasco spokerson, said in 2016 the firm ceded about half of its claim blocks to the Mines and Mining Development ministry in various areas, including Shurugwi and the South Dyke area. Sadomba said the blocks were parceled out to individuals and companies, who proceeded to carry out extensive mining activities, but there were perceptions that some of the mining operations were owned by Zimasco. “Zimasco is not the only entity with claim blocks on the Dyke, including in the specific Shurugwi and South Dyke area,” she said…ZimAlloys spokesperson Christopher Watadza requested questions in writing when contacted for comment. Watadza, however, did not respond to the questions and repeated attempts to contact him were fruitless.