Assessing the Implementation and Impact of Land Restoration Mechanisms in Mining-Affected Areas in Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe

Chrome mining plays a critical role in economic development and livelihood sustenance in Mhondongori Ward 5 and Mapirimira Ward 6 of Zvishavane District, Zimbabwe, although most activities occur through informal extraction. Rapid expansion of chrome mining has resulted in severe mining-induced land degradation. This study examines environmental impacts of chrome mining by assessing the effectiveness of existing mitigation strategies through community perceptions captured using psychometric questions and comparing findings with legal requirements to determine compliance and regulatory weaknesses. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from Likert-scale questionnaires, qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews, and direct field observations. While artisanal, small-scale, and legacy large-scale mining contribute to ongoing mining-induced land degradation, local communities primarily identify Chinese chrome mining operations as the main current driver of environmental degradation. Results indicate that 48.9% of community respondents agreed and 10.1% strongly agreed that small-scale miners contribute to land degradation, while 78% attributed environmental damage to Chinese operations. Poverty-driven artisanal mining and weak regulatory oversight have intensified land degradation. Community participation in environmental education is low, with community respondents (69.6%) disagreeing and 22.9% strongly disagreeing that they had attended Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation campaigns, while 74.4% reported poor knowledge of environmental legal frameworks. The study reveals limited stakeholder engagement and increasing encroachment of mining activities into croplands and grazing areas, threatening rural livelihoods. Despite some interventions, inadequate monitoring persists. The study calls for collaborative policy action, enforcement, and inclusive environmental education involving miners, communities, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation, Non-Governmental Organizations to promote sustainable mining aligned with national development frameworks goals.