Feeding hope today while nurturing a brighter, sustainable tomorrow

My name is Oswald Makonese. As the Mine Manager of Sabi Star Lithium mine in rural Buhera, Zimbabwe, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges our communities face.

Buhera is in the arid Region 5 where each year, survival is tough. Recently, the devastating effects of the El Ni?o drought left many families in Buhera struggling to find food.

Our mine decided to heed government’s call that no one should starve by sourcing 30 tonnes of maize to assist 600 families with maize for two months.

We asked the community to identify the most vulnerable including widows, the elderly, child headed families and people with disabilities.

This immediate assistance was critical, but it also raises an important conversation about the role of corporate social responsibility in times of crisis and how we balance it with long-term, sustainable development initiatives.

Food aid is essential when communities are confronted by emergencies like the drought, and it becomes a lifeline for families who would otherwise go hungry.

While our core business is mining, we recognize that we have a responsibility to support the communities in which we operate, especially when they are faced with such challenges.

Immediate relief in the form of food aid is an ethical response, ensuring that no one is left behind when nature disrupts livelihoods.

?In this moment, helping our neighbors with food was not just an act of goodwill—it was a necessity.

However, while food aid is a crucial short-term solution, it cannot be the only answer. At our mine, we are focused on long-term sustainability and empowering the community to become self-reliant.

The future of Buhera lies in resilience, not dependency. That’s why, alongside providing immediate relief, we are investing in sustainable projects that address the root causes of food insecurity and promote economic development.

One of the key initiatives we’ve embarked on is establishing nutrition gardens which will give families access to fresh, nutritious food year-round.

These gardens are not only a source of food security but also offer economic opportunities, as excess produce can be sold locally.

By empowering families to grow their own food, we’re helping to build a buffer against future droughts and economic hardships.

In addition to supporting agriculture, we’re working to improve infrastructure in Buhera.

This includes upgrading roads to ensure better access to markets, healthcare, and schools.

One of our most significant commitments is the construction of a US$180 000 clinic, which provides vital healthcare services to a rural population that was in need of easy access to medical care. Infrastructure development is the backbone of a community’s ability to thrive, and these projects will have a lasting impact long after the food aid has been consumed.

We believe that true CSR is not just about responding to crises, but about helping communities stand on their own two feet in the long term.

Our efforts to build a clinic, improve roads, and establish nutrition gardens reflect our commitment to creating a Buhera that is more resilient, self-sustaining community capable of weathering future storms—both literal and figurative.

While food aid was necessary in the face of the El Ni?o drought, it is our broader vision for sustainable development that will create lasting change in Buhera.

We are committed to ensuring that our presence leads to growth, empowerment, and shared prosperity for years to come, where communities are not just surviving but thriving.

Let’s continue to move forward—feeding hope today and nurturing a brighter, sustainable tomorrow.