Villagers Win Legal Battle Against Mining Firm in Ancestral Land Case
The High Court has ordered chrome mining operations in Chiromo Village, Zaka District, to cease immediately after ruling that Bailzone Mining (Pvt) Ltd infringed on communal land rights and lacked legal authority to operate in the area.
The legal challenge was brought by four villagers—Gideon, John and Million Rushinga, along with Pride Garauzive who accused the company of encroaching on homesteads, grazing land, burial sites and other culturally significant areas.
The applicants cited the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, the Environmental Management Agency and the Sheriff of Zimbabwe as respondents.
In their submissions, the villagers called for the cancellation of 60 mining certificates issued to Bailzone by the Masvingo Provincial Mining Director.
They also sought to have the company’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval overturned, arguing that neither community consent nor local authority authorisation had been obtained.
Bailzone initially filed its own urgent application seeking to bar the villagers from obstructing mining activities.
The court dismissed that request after the company failed to prove it had secured permission from the Zaka Rural District Council—a legal requirement under the Communal Land Act.
In a follow-up case, the applicants returned to the High Court, questioning the legality of the mining approvals and the EIA process. They argued the company’s documentation was invalid, as it was issued without proper consultation or adherence to communal land protections.
Bailzone opposed the action, stating its licences remained valid and that its operations were supported by existing documentation.
However, the court held that the firm’s paperwork could not override the customary rights of communities occupying the affected land.
According to The Herald, the ruling prevents Bailzone from carrying out any prospecting or mining activity in Chiromo Village and underscores the principle that communal lands may not be lawfully exploited without the informed consent of their occupants.
The decision is being seen as a landmark moment for land rights in Zimbabwe, setting a legal precedent for future cases involving disputes between mining interests and rural communities.
