How long should Zimbabwe be donor dependent?
The issue of the length of time the Zimbabweans will have to continue relying on the international donors is acute. Even with the international donor efforts to alleviate livelihoods by introducing different interventions, the government of Zimbabwe tends to misuse funds which are provided by various economic sectors.
Another major issue is when the projects funded by the donors are finished and have to be certified by one of the appropriate ministries. Government authorities in Zimbabwe are often heard to take 'credit' in these projects thus deceiving their populations by insinuating that the donors are simply reclaiming what is theirs or simply not acknowledging the contribution of the donors.
Furthermore, the government fails to make any assurance of the sustainability (see below) of these projects resulting in the degradation of structures and restoration to the normal state of suffering. The question that this cycle evokes is why various donors tend to repeat the same projects soon after. The corrupt nature of the Zimbabwean government incapacitates the communities and line ministries. It also, limits the sustenance of projects and sustenance of dependency as a result of donors. This has implications to the donors.
The projects that are launched today cannot be projected to be sustained on the local resources in the long run. The risk is infrastruct in Zimbabwe is dependent, effectively, on charity - something a legitamate goverment should never do. It is the function of a competent government to provide and maintain infrastucture and projects. Something sadly lacking in Zimbabwe as a whole - just look at the failed sewage and water supply problems and their knock on effect on public health - another area in desperate need of government support!
The present state of donor assistance cannot be perpetuated without the occurrence of a new dimension of priorities in the world. The donors also have not knowingly gotten into a continued agreement to supply resources to the government. The use of funding on particular projects is not usually of much benefit since it places too much strain on limited administrative expertise and the locals are not sustained. There are also security concerns, drought, and administrative limitation beyond the large cities, which contribute to the ineffectiveness of aid even more.
Sustainability Issues
Just look and the environment damage being casued by Mining operations - in particular the Chinese Lithium and copper mines. Strip mining entire hill sides and mountains!
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Large-scale mining operations, which extract minerals like coal, gold, copper, and critical resources for renewables (e.g., lithium, cobalt), profoundly alter landscapes worldwide. These activities—often involving open-pit excavation, infrastructure development, and waste management—drive short-term economic gains but impose long-lasting environmental degradation and social inequities. From 2001 to 2020, mining alone caused the loss of 1.4 million hectares of tree cover globally, equivalent to the size of Montenegro, releasing 36 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually.
wri.org
Impacts are especially severe in biodiverse regions like tropical rainforests and protected areas, where 450,000 hectares of primary forest were lost in this period.
wri.org
Below, I outline key effects, drawing on global patterns and examples.Environmental EffectsMining disrupts ecosystems through direct land clearance and indirect pollution, leading to irreversible landscape changes. The table below summarizes major categories:
|
Impact Category |
Description |
Examples |
|
Deforestation and Land-Use Change |
Extensive clearing for pits, roads, and processing facilities removes vegetation, erodes topsoil, and alters hydrology. This denudes hilly terrains, accelerating runoff and landslides during rains. |
In Indonesia, coal mining caused 370,000 hectares of tree loss (2001–2020), 57% of global coal-related deforestation, transforming forested hills into barren pits. wri.org In the U.S. Appalachians, mountaintop removal for coal scarred 120,000 hectares, with recovery to mature forests taking 50+ years. wri.org |
|
Water Pollution and Depletion |
High water use (e.g., for dust suppression and mineral separation) lowers groundwater tables, while tailings dams leak toxins like cyanide, mercury, arsenic, and acids, contaminating rivers and aquifers for centuries. Acid mine drainage creates perpetual toxic sites. |
In Montana, USA, a gold mine's acid drainage will pollute watersheds for over 1,000 years. wrm.org.uy Amazon illegal gold mining, the largest mercury source globally, poisons rivers, affecting aquatic life and entering food chains. wri.org |
|
Soil Degradation and Erosion |
Excavation exposes and compacts soil, leading to erosion, silting of waterways, and heavy metal deposition from airborne waste. Tailings mounds cover vast areas, rendering land unproductive. |
In Ghana, 60,000 hectares of forest loss from gold mining (2001–2020) caused soil erosion threatening endemic species habitats. wri.org Global tailings often contain radioactive or acidic residues, dispersing via wind. earth.org |
|
Biodiversity Loss and Habitat Fragmentation |
Habitat destruction, noise from blasting, and pollution eliminate species and fragment ecosystems. Air pollution (dust, SO2) causes acid rain; emissions contribute to climate change. |
In the Amazon Basin, mining affects 10% of Indigenous territories, endangering species like the green-tailed bristlebill in Ghana's rainforests. wri.org Worldwide, mining threatens 38% of primary forests, with endemic extinctions in affected zones. wrm.org.uy |
|
Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
Dust, toxic gases, and fossil fuel use degrade air quality and release CO2/methane. Low-concentration ores require energy-intensive processing. |
Diamond mining emits ~800,000 kg CO2e per kg extracted, far exceeding iron's 2 kg. earth.org Coal mining in Brazil and Peru drives 71% of mining deforestation emissions. wri.org |
These effects compound in sensitive areas: in the Democratic Republic of Congo, cobalt mining for batteries has deforested 13,000 hectares (2001–2020), with demand projected to rise 20-fold by 2040, intensifying pollution. wri.org
Social Effects
While mining supports economies (e.g., top 40 companies generated $544 billion in 2020 revenue), earth.org benefits rarely reach locals, exacerbating inequalities. Artisanal/small-scale mining (ASM), involving 40 million people, provides livelihoods but amplifies risks. from earth.org
- Community Displacement and Land Appropriation: Mining seizes communal lands for concessions, displacing Indigenous and rural groups reliant on forests for subsistence (food, medicine, fuel). From 2001–2020, 260,000 hectares were lost on Indigenous lands, including 90,000 in tropical forests—19% of total mining deforestation. wri.org
In the Amazon, over 20% of Indigenous territories hold mining concessions, with 4,472 illegal sites in 2020 sparking conflicts. wri.org
Historical cases include devastation of Yanomami (Amazon) and Igorot (Philippines) communities. wrm.org.uy
Protests often lead to repression, with governments criminalizing opposition. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Health and Well-Being Risks: Pollution causes respiratory diseases (dust/SO2), neurological damage (mercury/lead), and bioaccumulation in food/water. ASM mercury emissions doubled globally (2005–2010), affecting 50–100 million people; children and fetuses are most vulnerable. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
In Peru, locals fear contaminated subsistence resources despite national GDP gains (12% from mining). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Noise and hazardous conditions worsen mental/physical health.
- Economic and Cultural Disparities: Revenues fuel national growth (e.g., lifting 1 billion from poverty since 1990, 75% via China's mineral-driven boom), pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
but locals face "resource curse"—minimal jobs, cultural erosion, and social disintegration. In Ghana, ASM supports 4.5 million economically but involves child labor and rights abuses. wri.org
Exclusion from decisions violates environmental justice, with inadequate compensation. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Pathways to MitigationSustainable practices—like tailings reuse, phytomining, and community veto rights (e.g., ICMM principles)—can reduce harms, but enforcement lags in developing nations. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Recycling minerals and securing land rights are critical for balancing demands from green tech transitions. For region-specific insights, sources like the World Rainforest Movement offer advocacy tools. wrm.org.uy
Detailed regarding pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Key PMC References on Environmental and Social Impacts of Large-Scale MiningBased on your request, I've compiled a list of relevant, peer-reviewed articles from PubMed Central (PMC) that address the environmental and social effects of large-scale mining operations. These were identified through a targeted search on pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov for studies linking "large-scale mining" to environmental or social impacts. I've included the article title, authors, publication date, PMCID (for direct access), a brief summary of key findings, and relevance to landscape effects (e.g., deforestation, pollution, community displacement). You can access full texts via the PMCID links on the PMC site (e.g., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMCID/).I've prioritized recent and highly cited works, focusing on global and regional examples like Ghana, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Amazon. If you need deeper dives into specific articles or more searches, let me know!
|
PMCID |
Title |
Authors |
Publication Date |
Key Summary & Relevance |
|
PMC4739650 |
Socially Responsible Mining: the Relationship between Mining and Poverty Development in the Peruvian Andes |
Elizabeth Holcombe, Anthony Bebbington |
February 2016 |
Examines how large-scale mining in Peru exacerbates poverty and social inequities despite economic promises. Highlights environmental degradation (e.g., water contamination) displacing indigenous communities, leading to loss of traditional livelihoods tied to landscapes. Relevant for social displacement and long-term ecosystem harm. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC7225204 |
Mining is bad for health: a voyage of discovery |
Sidua Olierook, et al. |
July 2019 |
Reviews health risks from mining pollutants (dust, heavy metals) entering air, water, and soil, causing respiratory and neurological issues. Contrasts large-scale mechanized operations with artisanal mining but notes persistent environmental legacies like acid drainage altering landscapes for generations. Ties to biodiversity loss and community health burdens. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC6221437 |
Review of Environmental and Health Impacts of Mining in Ghana |
Kwesi Nyame Adom, et al. |
March 2018 |
Details deforestation, soil erosion, and river pollution from large-scale gold mining in Ghana, using heavy machinery and chemicals. Socially, it discusses displacement of farmers and health epidemics from mercury exposure. Emphasizes 60,000+ hectares of forest loss, mirroring global patterns of habitat fragmentation. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC12001737 |
Exploring prioritization of wellbeing and health impacts for mining communities: a mixed-methods study |
Sarah Anne Parkes, et al. |
April 2025 |
Uses mixed methods to prioritize health/wellbeing metrics in sub-Saharan African mining areas, finding large-scale projects increase water scarcity and mental health issues via landscape alteration. Recommends community-led monitoring for social justice. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC8835288 |
History, Socioeconomic Problems and Environmental Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Colombia |
Oscar H. Patiño, et al. |
January 2022 |
While focused on small-scale, contrasts with large-scale mining's broader deforestation and mercury pollution in Colombia's landscapes. Socially, notes indigenous land grabs and cultural erosion; environmental impacts include river silting and biodiversity hotspots loss. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC10220784 |
Socio-Environmental Risks Linked with Mine Tailings Chemical Composition: A Systematic Review |
Claudia Quintanilla, et al. |
May 2023 |
Analyzes tailings from large-scale operations (e.g., gold/copper) containing toxins like cyanide and arsenic, leading to soil infertility and groundwater contamination. Social risks include community exposure via food chains; calls for better waste management to prevent landscape-wide pollution. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC3357810 |
Impacts of Surface Gold Mining on Land Use Systems in Western Ghana |
K. Gyamfi-Ampadu, et al. |
April 2012 |
Quantifies 20-30% land-use change from large-scale gold mining, causing erosion and farmland loss in Ghana's savannas/forests. Socially, disrupts agrarian communities; environmental focus on hydrology shifts and reduced soil productivity. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC7519138 |
The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy resources in developing countries |
Gavin M. Mudd, et al. |
September 2020 |
Explores in-migration from large-scale mining in Queensland/Africa, leading to social strain (e.g., inequality, conflict) and environmental strain (e.g., emissions, habitat loss). Highlights "resource curse" where landscape booms yield uneven benefits. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC8802519 |
Assessing the effects of mining projects on child health in sub-Saharan Africa |
Anna Bruederl, et al. |
January 2022 |
Studies 81 large-scale mines (2002-2019) in 23 SSA countries, linking them to higher child malnutrition and stunting via polluted water/soil affecting agriculture. Demonstrates social vulnerability in altered landscapes. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
|
PMC9412790 |
Reducing disease and death from Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in sub-Saharan Africa |
Axel Bernd Günther, et al. |
August 2022 |
Discusses rising ASM/large-scale overlap, with environmental mercury releases doubling (2005-2010) impacting 50-100 million people. Urges mitigation for air/soil pollution and social health crises in mining landscapes. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
These articles provide robust, evidence-based insights—many open-access on PMC. For instance, the Ghana-focused studies (e.g., PMC6221437) directly tie to deforestation figures I mentioned earlier.