Constraints to Reflexive Governance of Sand Mining by State Institutions in Zimbabwe

Illegal sand mining continues to cause severe social and environmental degradation in Zimbabwe despite legal frameworks intended to regulate the sector. This qualitative case study of Harare Metropolitan Province examines constraints to the reflexive governance of sand mining by state institutions. Guided by the reflexive governance framework, the study employed semi-structured interviews with purposively selected informants, including government officials, industry representatives, community leaders, residents, and illegal sand miners. Findings reveal that reflexive governance is constrained by macroeconomic, political, and institutional barriers, particularly weak law enforcement, limited stakeholder participation, and resource shortages. Corruption, bribery, and political interference further undermine regulatory effectiveness and sustain illegal operations. The study concludes that governance systems lack the adaptability needed to address unemployment-driven informality and recommends formalising informal sand mining, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and enhancing institutional capacity for sustainable mining practices.