Livelihoods and natural resource management in fast-track lithium mining in Arcturus rural community in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The global shift towards clean energy technology, as one of the sustainable initiatives to curb climate change, has significantly increased the demand for lithium, which is one of the key minerals in the development of this technology. This surge in demand has led to a massive expansion of lithium mining in Zimbabwe, with new mines mushrooming across the country. With the lithium boom being recent in the country, studies around this phenomenon are scarce. Previous studies and articles have primarily focused on the struggles of displaced households and small scall miners due to the lithium boom. This study introduces a livelihoods perspective focusing on communities that continue to reside adjacent to the mines. This makes it the first to apply the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to analyse how lithium mining simultaneously affects frontline community livelihoods and water availability in Zimbabwe. Thus, offering a holistic socio-environmental perspective missing from existing research. The research investigates the livelihood changes and environmental impacts in the Arcturus rural community following the onset of the Arcadia Lithium Mine project in Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach was followed in exploring this issue, using the Arcadia Lithium Mine project as a case study and focusing on communities surrounding the mine. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 research participants, who were selected through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Grounded in the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), livelihood changes were examined. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. By integrating environmental dimensions, particularly water availability into the SLF analysis, this study extends the framework’s application and demonstrates its utility in capturing the intertwined socioenvironmental consequences of resource extraction. The findings revealed that all five capitals of the SLF as well as the environment have been negatively affected by the mine. To a large extent, the communities’ livelihoods did not improve following the establishment of the mine in their locality. Key livelihood activities affected included the loss of farmlands, grazing areas, fishing grounds, and reduced social interactions. While the impacts were not uniform across communities, the most affected community with all 5 capitals affected was Lawfield, where the mine claim is located. Some communities experienced greater disruption to social cohesion and natural capitals, while others reported significant declines in social cohesion and physical resources. However, some positive infrastructural developments on roads and a local school were reported. Regardless, participants across all cases expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the mine had eroded their livelihoods without offering meaningful benefits in return. In light of these findings, it is recommended that a national lithium strategy be developed and a dedicated government department be established to monitor emerging lithium mines, ensuring a balance between economic gains and socioecological impacts. This study’s in-depth analysis of one of the newly established lithium mines provides valuable insights into the livelihood and environmental challenges associated with the current lithium mining boom. With several other mines under exploration in Zimbabwe, the findings from this research highlight critical issues that may be present elsewhere and underscore the urgency of a coordinated national response. Further research across new lithium mining communities would deepen understanding these impacts. Thus, helping determine whether the challenges experienced by the Arcadia mine communities are widespread across new lithium mines. This ensures the development of national mitigation strategies that are robust and applicable across diverse new lithium mining projects.