Agrarian transformation and artisanal and small-scale chrome mining on Zimbabwe's Great Dyke geological formation

Despite the growth of artisanal and small-scale chrome mining (ASCM) on the back of Zimbabwe's radical land and agrarian reforms implemented in 2000, there is a dearth of studies on the nexus between the agrarian transformation and the boom in artisanal chrome mining. This paper explores the interface between ASCM and the agrarian transformation engendered by the Fast Track Land Reform Programme in Zimbabwe. The article seeks to address the gap in the literature on artisanal mining and rural livelihood by examining how artisanal chrome mining is reshaping rural livelihoods. The article argues that ASCM and agriculture are greatly imbricated livelihoods with people oscillating between the two livelihoods. It demonstrates how base minerals such as chrome are increasingly becoming an integral part of the livelihoods of communities living along the Great Dyke. The article draws on ethnographic data gathered in Mapanzure communal areas in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. • Land and agrarian transformation allowed peasants access to mineral rich lands • Small-holder agriculture and artisanal chrome mining are now interlinked. • Base metals such as chrome have been neglected in literature due to a fetish with gold. • Artisanal chrome mining has created employment opportunities • Artisanal chrome mining is underpinned by exploitative labor relations. • Chinese mining companies are increasingly dominating the extraction and export of chrome