Govt bans riverbed mining

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

Government has effectively banned riverbed mining as a report on such activities has highlighted damning effects on the environment and water bodies.

The mining activities that started in 2011 in all the country’s rural provinces on a large scale basis have led to various negative effects that include water pollution, diktat ion and degradation which has emerged as a problem to the ecosystem.

Speaking during the post-Cabinet press briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister, Jenfan Muswere confirmed the development noting that the situation is concerning especially due to its damage to the preservation of water bodies and of the riverine ecosystem.

“Cabinet considered and approved the Report on Alluvial Mining and Rehabilitation of Degraded Rivers, which was presented by Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr. Anxious Masuka, as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment.

“Cabinet directed that riverbed mining be banned with immediate effect,” he asserted.

Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka noted that apart from individuals who are illegally doing river bed mining without even registering, there are those who register with the relevant departments but fail to live up to the expectations.

"We have noted three classes of mining companies those that apply legally and adhere, then those that apply but do something different, and then there are the illegal ones who just go to the river.

"In banning we need to ensure that courts mete out deterrent penalties and fines, we felt that the fines are not deterrent enough and the experience is that some of the companies saw it is better to pay a fine than rehabilitate. It was felt that this is tantamount to environmental theft,” Dr Masuka said.

Such practices have left notable damage in different places across the country that include Save River, Runde, Muzingwane and Umzingwane river having destroyed and disrupted soil sedimentation, aquatic ecosystems and wildlife habitats while also having a deep impact on agricultural lands and local communities.