Staff Writer-
Communities and civil society have called for a new model of mining governance that protects people and the environment, as the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) 2026 officially opened.
Speaking during the opening session, Zimbabwe Council of Churches President Bishop K. Sibanda said the country's minerals must benefit ordinary Zimbabweans and not just a select few.
He said a mine cannot be considered successful if surrounding communities lose access to clean water, health services and livelihoods while profits are captured elsewhere.
"Mining governance must ensure that every license granted, every river protected, and every dollar earned serves human dignity," he said.
Bishop Sibanda said the current extractive model needs to shift towards one that restores land, repairs harm and rebuilds communities, ensuring that wealth taken from beneath a community leaves a lasting inheritance for future generations.
He also stressed that true development and energy transition must protect land, water and food systems, which are the foundation of community survival.
"Let us move from mere extraction to a covenant of stewardship, ensuring our mineral wealth becomes a shared blessing of justice, dignity and life for all," he said.
This year's Indaba is being held under the hashtags #ConversationsOfHope, #zami2026 and #Faith4Equality, with a focus on accountability, justice and community rights in the mining sector.
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