Sabi Star Lithium Mine
Max Minds
In November 2021, Chengxin Lithium Group, a Shenzhen-listed company, acquired a 51% stake in Max Mind Investments for approximately US$76.5 million.
Zimbabwe
Manicaland
2021
Annual Production
| Year | Status | Bauxite | Copper | Cobalt | Lithium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | operational | - | - | - | 290,000 | - |
Mining Details
The Sabi Star Lithium-Tantalum Project, owned by Max Mind Investments (Zimbabwe) Private Limited, a subsidiary of China's Chengxin Lithium Group, is situated in Buhera District, Manicaland Province, southeastern Zimbabwe. The project is approximately 40 kilometers east of Murambinda Growth Point and about 180 kilometers southeast of Harare. It lies within the Odzi Geological Complex.
Ownership
Deposit Size
5 million tonnes of lithium-tantalum ore
1.86% Li₂O
Approximately 5 million tonnes of lithium-tantalum ore with an average grade of 1.86% Li₂O and 294 g/t Ta₂O₅.
Project Impacts
Environmental Impacts
Communities reported increased dust and noise.
ongoingMeaning: Communities reported increased dust and noise from heavy trucking,
Communities reported increased dust and noise from heavy trucking, adversely affecting health and education for children near the mine for those that remained and were not relocated. Further there were reports of odours and chemical pollution emanating from mine wastewater dams have raised public health and environmental concerns
In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds.
ongoingMeaning: In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds
In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds has resulted in contamination of ground water. Water tests conducted by a local media outlet (Newshawks) revealed that the boreholes were contaminated with toxic chemicals, threatening the health of community members, livestock and wildlife
Social Impacts
41 families were displacement of communities
ongoingMeaning: 41 families were displacement of communities' loss of livelihoods.
41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods. The displaced communities were however compensated in monetary value for the loss of the land and also graves of their relatives that were exhumed. Villagers accused the company of reneging on job promises and demanding corruption payments—outsiders were hired instead of local community members. Further new homes provided were smaller, poorly constructed, and cracked within months; agricultural and grazing land was lost, along with water access. Children are said to have dropped out of school
Displacement of families and communities.
ongoingMeaning: 41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods.
41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods. The displaced communities were however compensated in monetary value for the loss of the land, and also graves of their relatives that were exhumed. Villagers accused the company of reneging on job promises and demanding corruption payments—outsiders were hired instead of local community members. Further new homes provided were smaller, poorly constructed, and cracked within months; agricultural and grazing land was lost, along with water access. Children are said to have dropped out of school
Labour Worker Rights
Labour challenges include poor working conditions.
ongoingMeaning: Labour challenges include poor working conditions, and victimization of workers who join unions.
Labour challenges include poor working conditions, and victimization of workers who join unions.
Project Impacts
Environmental Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communities reported increased dust and noise. | Communities reported increased dust and noise from heavy trucking, | 2024 | ongoing | Communities reported increased dust and noise from heavy trucking, adversely affecting health and education for children near the mine for those that remained and were not relocated. Further there were reports of odours and chemical pollution emanating from mine wastewater dams have raised public health and environmental concerns |
| In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds. | In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds | 2024 | ongoing | In Buhera, mining operations by Max Minds has resulted in contamination of ground water. Water tests conducted by a local media outlet (Newshawks) revealed that the boreholes were contaminated with toxic chemicals, threatening the health of community members, livestock and wildlife |
Social Impacts
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 families were displacement of communities | 41 families were displacement of communities' loss of livelihoods. | 2023 | ongoing | 41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods. The displaced communities were however compensated in monetary value for the loss of the land and also graves of their relatives that were exhumed. Villagers accused the company of reneging on job promises and demanding corruption payments—outsiders were hired instead of local community members. Further new homes provided were smaller, poorly constructed, and cracked within months; agricultural and grazing land was lost, along with water access. Children are said to have dropped out of school |
| Displacement of families and communities. | 41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods. | 2023 | ongoing | 41 families were displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods. The displaced communities were however compensated in monetary value for the loss of the land, and also graves of their relatives that were exhumed. Villagers accused the company of reneging on job promises and demanding corruption payments—outsiders were hired instead of local community members. Further new homes provided were smaller, poorly constructed, and cracked within months; agricultural and grazing land was lost, along with water access. Children are said to have dropped out of school |
Labour Worker Rights
| Name | Meaning | Year | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour challenges include poor working conditions. | Labour challenges include poor working conditions, and victimization of workers who join unions. | 2023 | ongoing | Labour challenges include poor working conditions, and victimization of workers who join unions. |
Related News5
Lithium mining in Zimbabwe: a story of loss for one community
New research traces how 41 families in Buhera were displaced from their homes to make way for Zimbabwe’s third largest lithium mine, owned by China’s Sabi Star mining company.
Lithium mine project injects life to Buhera
The establishment of Sabi Star Mine in the drought-prone area, located in ecological region 5, has changed the lives of villagers from Mukwasi, Tagarira and Ngwazani, among others, through various developmental initiatives.
Zimbabwe looks to China to secure place in EV battery supply chain
Chinese companies have invested billions in Zimbabwe’s lithium. Now Harare wants to ensure some processing happens before export.
Buhera families sing the blues after relocation from lithium field
Mysterious loss of livestock, joblessness and a daily struggle for livelihood routes due to lost farmland are some of the tribulations that families displaced by a lithium mining company have to contend with on a daily basis. Last July, this publication ran an investigation into the displacement of villagers from the environs of Sabi Star mine that, besides leaving them high and dry, did not follow proper procedure in the relocation of the community members.
Displaced villagers bitter with lithium miner
PARCHED rural Buhera in Manicaland province, southeastern Zimbabwe, witnessed rare pomp and glitz in December 2022 when President Emmerson Mnangagwa came down with a high-powered delegation. The entourage included the Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and the third most powerful figure in government, Oppah Muchinguri, who is Defence minister and the ruling Zanu PF national chairperson.