A report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance alleges that operations at the Sandawana mine are “causing deep environmental, social, and economic turmoil”, including air, water and noise pollution, lithium smuggling, environmental damage, with impacts on livelihoods and ecosystems, structural damage to homes, and exclusion of women from economic opportunities.

Business and Human Rights Centre invited the owner of the mine, Kuvimba Mining House, to respond, but it did not.