"Lithium Supply in Zimbabwe", 2017

The Bikita mine is one of the largest lithium mines in Zimbabwe. The mine is located in southern part of the country in Masvingo Province, known for its natural beauty. The Bikita mine has reserves amounting to 10.8-11 million tonnes of lithium ore grading 1.4% lithium and thus resulting in around 0.15 million tonnes of lithium. Bikita mine is run by Bikita Minerals, Zimbabwe’s largest Lithium producer. In 2017 according to sources Bikita Minerals spend around USD 7 millions on equipment upgrade and further geological expansion... According to Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette, there are major tensions between locals and Bikita Mineral... [The] Financial Gazette states: "The community is accusing management and the mine of failing to comply with the Mines and Minerals Act on environmental issues. They say they have been without clean water for the last two years because rivers were being polluted by discharge of potentially toxic chemicals. A range of artificial hills formed by mine dumps of quarry dust are replacing the original landscape that now has very little vegetation growing. Patches of grass and low bush break the now barren-looking landscape.”