Residents of Valley of Kings, a residential community on the outskirts of Mutare, have raised alarm over alleged unlicensed gold-processing activities in their neighborhood, amid growing concerns over environmental safety and security.
The concerns were highlighted by Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) Executive Director, Farai Maguwu, who claims that a company identified as Bravolands Mining has established more than 100 cyanidation tanks in the area without the necessary regulatory approvals.
Valley of Kings is situated along the Mutare-Harare Highway near Magamba Campus and relies heavily on borehole water for domestic use. Residents fear that the use of cyanide in gold processing could contaminate groundwater sources and pose serious health risks to the community.
According to Maguwu, Bravolands Mining began setting up the processing infrastructure several months ago, allegedly to process gold ore transported from nearby Penhalonga. He further alleges that both the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) indicated they had not issued the company with a mining or mineral-processing licence for operations at the site.
In response to the alleged activities, residents reportedly engaged private security personnel to safeguard the neighborhood and its infrastructure.
Tensions escalated ahead of a meeting convened by Penhalonga Police involving the residents’ committee, Mutasa Rural District Council and company representatives. According to Maguwu, unidentified individuals allegedly used explosives to destroy the community’s entrance gate and damaged perimeter fencing on the eve of the meeting.
The incident reportedly prompted investigations by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers from Mutare.
Maguwu also alleges that Bravolands Mining continues to operate at the site despite community objections and that no arrests have been made in connection with the gate destruction. He further raised concerns about separate mining activities at Christmas Pass, where he claims blasting operations are continuing despite an existing ministerial stop order.
Describing the situation as a growing threat to public safety, Maguwu called on authorities to crack down on illegal mining and mineral-processing activities.
By the time of publication, authorities had not publicly confirmed whether Bravolands Mining holds a valid licence for the Valley of Kings operation, while comment from the Ministry of Mines, EMA and the Zimbabwe Republic Police was still being sought. The case adds to mounting concerns over the expansion of gold-processing activities near residential communities in Manicaland Province. 
