![\"Goats](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/goats-and-cattle-1791100397.jpg\")
Goats and cattle graze at a dump site in Turf, Zimbabwe, near platinum-mining areas [Enos Denhere\/Al Jazeera]<\/p>\nMimosa, Zimbabwe \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s platinum industry is generating billions of dollars, but residents in mining communities say roads, schools, water and other basic services have failed to keep pace with the wealth extracted from beneath their land.<\/p>\n
Platinum prices hit an all-time high of $2,923 an ounce on January 26 during a broader precious metals rally and continued concerns over the platinum supply, according to the World Platinum Investment Council.<\/p>\n
For Zimbabwe, home to the world\u2019s second largest known deposits of platinum group metals (PGMs) after South Africa, the price surge offers an opportunity to increase revenue from a sector central to the economy. Mining accounts for about 75 percent of the country\u2019s exports and about 14.5 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the International Trade Administration in the United States.<\/p>\n
The mining sector generated a record $8.5bn in export earnings in 2025, up from $5.9bn the previous year, according to John Musekiwa, then-president of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe. He said the increase was driven by strong output and favourable prices, particularly for gold and PGMs.<\/p>\n
But in communities surrounding some of the country\u2019s biggest platinum operations, residents said the wealth extracted from beneath their land has not translated into adequate roads, schools, water supplies and other basic services.<\/p>\n
In Mhondoro-Ngezi, one of Zimbabwe\u2019s major platinum-producing areas, that tension is visible on the ground.<\/p>\n
A rich mineral belt, struggling communities<\/p>\n
The Great Dyke, a geological formation stretching across central Zimbabwe, contains extensive deposits of PGMs. Zimplats operates mines, concentrators and processing facilities in the Mhondoro-Ngezi district there.<\/p>\n
Inside the mining complex, ore is processed in modern facilities, and heavy trucks move between mines and plants. Outside, residents of Turf, Mamina, Murambwa and nearby villages said infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the area\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n
Goats and cattle graze at a dump site in Turf, Zimbabwe, near platinum-mining areas [Enos Denhere\/Al Jazeera]<\/p>\n
Ernest Denhere, headman of Denhere village in Ward 3, said mining companies should leave a lasting legacy in the communities where they operate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call upon Zimplats and other mines to build a road from Kadoma\/Kwekwe to Turf, Benhura, Mamina, Murambwa and Kadhani, linking to the Harare-Masvingo highways,\u201d Denhere said.<\/p>\n
Ward 3 Councillor Emmah Chikwai said some children travel long distances to reach secondary school.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren from Jompani, Majoki, Maleti and Makwavarara walk between 15km and 25km [9 to 15.5 miles] to reach Musinambi Secondary School,\u201d she said. \u201cMy appeal is for the mines to assist in setting up a satellite secondary school in Makwavarara.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schools, water and livelihoods under pressure<\/p>\n
During a September 7 visit, Al Jazeera saw pupils at Turf Primary School learning under trees as rising enrolment strained the school\u2019s facilities.<\/p>\n
Nearby, women and young men searched through piles of waste for plastic they could sell. Cattle and goats moved among the rubbish.<\/p>\n
For Sakina Lice, collecting plastic is how she supports her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have 11 children and nine grandchildren. Picking up plastics is the only way I survive. When I resell them, I can make maybe $20 a month,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am the breadwinner. My husband is late, so it is just hand to mouth. My wish is for the mine to empower women, so we can start projects and support our families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents also raised concerns about the Ngwazani River, about 100 metres (330ft) from the dump site, alleging that sewage from the mining area has entered the waterway and affected its use for household needs and small gardens.<\/p>\n
Edson Mabure, whose family was relocated as mining activities expanded, said the river has become a problem for residents in his new community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur village was where the mine is today, so we were relocated. From our new village, I cross the Ngwazani River, which is now flooded with sewage coming from the mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the mine started operating, there is nothing tangible that has been done to leave a lasting legacy for the community. I don\u2019t know whether the responsibility lies with the council or Zimplats.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Agnes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Agnes-Handidikundiona-1791100402.jpg\")
Agnes Handidikundiona, a resident of a platinum-mining community in Zimbabwe, stands at the Ngwazani River in Turf with her children [Enos Denhere\/Al Jazeera]<\/p>\n
Agnes Handidikundiona, whom Al Jazeera met crossing the river with her children, said residents once relied on it for household activities and gardens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are facing a serious challenge because the water is no longer clean,\u201d she said. \u201cBefore the sewage spill, we used to use this water for domestic purposes, such as washing clothes and watering our nutritional gardens.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said flooding also has prevented some children from reaching school.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren from many villages cross here to go to school. Sometimes when the river is flooded, they cannot go to school. We need a footbridge here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ward 11 Councillor Nhomboka Kurebwa Javangwe said the area\u2019s population has increased as mine workers and their families have moved in.<\/p>\n
He said Zimplats has built classrooms and houses but demand continues to outstrip available facilities. He called for the company to build and operate a primary school.<\/p>\n
Javangwe also said local councillors have limited direct access to the company.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not have direct access to the mine to raise the concerns of our people,\u201d he said, adding that only the council chairperson was authorised to meet with Zimplats officials.<\/p>\n
The same concerns are being raised in other platinum-producing areas.<\/p>\n
In Shurugwi, home to the Unki Platinum Mine, residents have called for more investment in local infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\u201cI call upon Unki to consider assisting with classroom blocks for schools, water and sanitation, and roads in Shurugwi town,\u201d said Bulle Madzitire, chairman of the Shurugwi Residents Association.<\/p>\n
In nearby Zvishavane, Kamino Simango, chairman of the Zvishavane Residents Association, said the Mimosa Platinum Mine should focus more on infrastructure benefitting the wider community.<\/p>\n
Unki told Al Jazeera that it has invested an average of $1.5m a year in community development over the past five years, covering education, healthcare, water and sanitation, agriculture and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Its public relations manager, Evelyn Mawimba, said the mine has built 63 boreholes, supported 32 schools through its STEP-UP programme and contributed $2.75m towards land purchases and development of the Impali housing estate.<\/p>\n
Unki also pays about $130,000 a year in municipal levies to the Shurugwi Town Council and contributes about $850,000 annually to the Tongogara Rural District Council, Mawimba said.<\/p>\n
Mimosa did not respond to Al Jazeera\u2019s questions despite several attempts to contact the company.<\/p>\n
Al Jazeera also contacted the chairperson of the Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council, Alderman Ephraim Pepukai Chengeta, about Zimplats\u2019s contributions and development plans. He promised to respond but did not return calls or messages. The council\u2019s chief executive officer, Itai A Mawonde, asked for the questions in writing.<\/p>\n
Zimplats\u2019s head of corporate affairs, Hama Saburi, also said he would respond but did not do so by publication.<\/p>\n
For residents of Zimbabwe\u2019s platinum belt, the demands are straightforward: better roads, schools, water and other services in communities living alongside some of the country\u2019s most valuable mines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is beneath our land speaks volumes,\u201d Denhere said. \u201cWe need to see a lasting legacy for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mimosa, Zimbabwe \u2013 Zimbabwe\u2019s platinum industry is generating billions of dollars, but residents in mining communities say roads,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":659666,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[1911,114,184,85,46,43,39873],"class_list":["post-659665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-africa","tag-business","tag-economy","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-news","tag-zimbabwe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=659665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659665\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/659666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=659665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=659665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=659665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}