Giving the theological reflections during the official opening of the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba #zami2026, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches President Bishop K. Sibanda emphasised that the minerals beneath our soil are not just commodities; they are a sacred trust from God. Genesis 2:15 calls us to “till and keep” the earth, making clear that humanity is called to nurture, protect, and account for creation rather than plunder it. Mining governance must reflect this divine vocation, ensuring every license granted, river protected, and dollar earned serves human dignity and abundant life.
A mine cannot be called successful if local communities lose their water, health, and livelihoods while a select few capture the profits. Following the example of Nehemiah, who listened to the outcry of the exploited and demanded restitution, we are called to confront injustice, expose harm, and demand public accountability. Biblical principles like the Jubilee in Leviticus 25 remind us that economic systems must restore land, repair harm, and rebuild communities, ensuring wealth taken from beneath a community leaves a secure, living inheritance for future generations.
As Micah 6:8 demands, true progress requires us “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”. True transition and development must protect our land, water, and food systems as sacred foundations. Let us move from mereg extraction to a covenant of stewardship, ensuring our mineral wealth becomes a shared blessing of justice, dignity, and life for all.
