Shurugwi district lies around the mineral-rich geological formation commonly referred to as the Great
Dyke. The formation also has fertile soils ideal for agriculture. The district has been experiencing a lot of
land-use and land-cover changes induced both by the people and machinery in recent years following the
government’s Fast-Track Land Reform and Resettlement Program and the exploitation of different
minerals, including gold and platinum. This study sought to determine the rate of land-cover change that
has occurred in Shurugwi district since 1990. This was achieved through the use of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. The study also attempted to establish the
factors contributing to land-use and land-cover changes and this was achieved through semi-structured
interviews with key respondents. Field observations and measurements were also employed to validate
results from remotely sensed data. Results show that the rate of land-cover and land-use change has been
significant in Shurugwi district and that the greatest change occurred in 2000-2009. This accelerated
change is mainly attributable to cultivation(and related activities) linked to the Fast-Track Land Reform
and Resettlement Program, as well as mining and gold panning activities. The study recommends that the
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) monitor the cutting down of trees in newly resettled areas
through the promotion of tree alternatives for fuel and construction purposes. EMA should also stop
panning activities, as well as ensure that all new mines undergo full environmental impact assessments as
per EMA statutes in order to reduce land degradation in the district.