Hillcrest School Seeks Court Order to Stop Mutare Gold Mine

Hillcrest School in Mutare has approached the High Court seeking an urgent order to stop gold mining activities at Mt Sinai in Toronto, near the scenic Christmas Pass area.

The school, represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), wants Toronto Mines and other respondents to immediately halt mining and related activities, arguing that the operations are threatening the environment and disrupting learning at the school. The urgent application was filed by ZLHR lawyers Calexy Maunga (Jnr), Tatenda Sigauke and Dorothy Mutungura.

According to the court papers, increased open-cast mining activities at Toronto are causing significant disruption to Hillcrest School’s operations and affecting its ability to provide a suitable learning environment. Hillcrest, which has operated for more than 41 years, is located near Christmas Pass, one of Mutare’s major gateways and an area known for its scenic landscape and environmentally sensitive surroundings.

The school alleges that dust, noise, heavy machinery and other mining-related activities are affecting classes and the well-being of learners and staff. ZLHR said the case also raises broader concerns about environmental protection and the rights of communities living near mining operations.

School Seeks Broad Mining Ban

Hillcrest is asking the High Court to order Toronto Mines and four other respondents — Calvar House Investments (Private) Limited, Maxwell Chad, Rosa Villa Investments (Private) Limited and Golden Cube Investments (Private) Limited — to stop excavation and construction activities at Mt Sinai.

The school is also seeking an order requiring the respondents to remove excavators, heavy machinery, processing equipment and other mining-related equipment from the site pending lawful authorisation of the operations.

In addition, the school wants an interdict preventing the respondents, their employees, agents, contractors or anyone acting on their behalf from conducting mining-related activities at the site. The activities listed in the application include mining, excavation, crushing, processing, mineral recovery, heap leaching, further excavation, stockpiling of excavated material and construction or use of mining infrastructure.

Licences and Environmental Approvals

Hillcrest argues that mining activities should not continue unless all required statutory licences, permits, environmental approvals and other authorisations have been obtained from the relevant regulatory authorities. The application places the environmental and educational concerns at the centre of the dispute, with the school seeking judicial intervention to stop activities it says are already disrupting its operations.

The case comes amid growing concerns over the impact of mining activities on communities and environmentally sensitive areas across Zimbabwe. The High Court is now being asked to determine whether the mining operations at Mt Sinai should be halted pending compliance with the country's regulatory requirements.

Hillcrest School Toronto mine