A legislator has called for urgent ministerial accountability over mining operations at Christmas Pass and Penhalonga Valley in Mutare District, alleging that operators are defying government stop orders while exposing communities to environmental hazards and miners to life threatening injuries.
Speaking in the National Assembly on September 10, Hon. Brian James warned that the situation demanded immediate government intervention, these proceedings are recorded in National Assembly Hansard, 10 September 2026, pp. 4–8. Vol. 52 No. 74.pdf “The escalating crisis surrounding mining operations at Christmas Pass and the Penhalonga Valley demands immediate ministerial accountability,” he told the House.
He alleged that contractors at Christmas Pass, initially cleared to undertake an accommodation project for an African university, had transitioned into large-scale mining and ignored official directives to stop operations.
“Contractors at the Christmas Pass site originally cleared for an African University accommodation project transitioned into a large-scale mining operation and ignored official ministerial cease and desist orders,” he said. Hon.
James also raised concerns about mining activities allegedly continuing at night, questioning who was allowing the operations to proceed. “Mining activities continue under the cover of night in open contempt of legal notices,” he said, adding that this raised “urgent questions regarding who is enabling or protecting these illicit operations.”
In Penhalonga Valley, he criticised what he described as uncontrolled alluvial and artisanal mining, warning of the consequences for workers and the surrounding environment.
The legislator told Parliament that Mutare Provincial Hospital was recording a growing burden of severe injuries linked to collapsing tunnels and dangerous mining conditions.
“Mutare Provincial Hospital is recording an unprecedented influx of severe spinal injuries caused by collapsing tunnels and hazardous working conditions in the Penhalonga alluvial fields,” he said.
He added that the hospital lacked the specialised equipment and capacity required to treat such injuries, calling for mining companies benefiting from the area’s mineral wealth to help fund medical care and rehabilitation.
Environmental risks were another major concern. Hon. James warned that excavations and planned tailings dams near Christmas Pass could threaten Hillcrest School and residential areas in Toronto.
“High altitude excavation and planned tailing dams on the upper fringes of Christmas Pass pose a catastrophic landslide risk to the low-lying Hillcrest School and Toronto residential areas,” he said. His intervention prompted a challenge from Hon.
Remigio Matangira, who questioned the description of mining as illegal and argued that its illegality had to be established.
“There is no illegal mining. Where does the gold go? Is it going to Britain or is it being bought by Fidelity? We have got a policy,”
Matangira said. Hon. James subsequently requested ministerial statements from the Mines, Health and Environment ministries.
He asked the Mines Ministry to clarify the legal status of operations and continued night-time mining, the Health Ministry to provide figures on mining-related injuries and an emergency support plan, and the Environment Ministry to report on environmental degradation and mitigation measures.
Deputy Speaker acknowledged the concerns and said the appeal would be relayed to the responsible ministers.
The allegations and risks raised in Parliament now place the relevant ministries under pressure to clarify the status of the operations and explain what measures, if any, are being taken to protect workers, residents and public infrastructure. – CNRG
