Sand Poaching: A Danger to Environment

Oscar J. Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

Sand poaching in Zimbabwe has emerged as a significant environmental and economic issue, causing widespread concern among communities and local authorities.

With the demand for construction materials soaring, illegal sand mining activities have proliferated, particularly along riverbanks and in protected areas. Although these activities cater to increased demand, their environmental, social, and economic consequences are severe.

Sand poaching destabilizes landscapes, leading to soil erosion and land degradation. Vegetation is cleared during extraction, removing the natural binding effect of roots and exposing soil to wind and water erosion. This results in desertification in affected areas and the loss of arable land, reducing agricultural productivity and food security. Additionally, aquatic ecosystems are disrupted as riverbeds are altered and water turbidity increases.

Washing sand on riverbanks releases sediments into water bodies, reducing water quality and threatening aquatic life. Fish populations, which many communities rely on for food, are declining as their habitats are destroyed.

Wetlands, crucial for biodiversity and water retention, are being destroyed by sand poaching. These areas play a vital role in filtering water, supporting wildlife, and mitigating floods. Their destruction compromises these functions, causing irreversible ecosystem damage.

Excessive sand extraction lowers water tables, making it harder for communities to access groundwater, and exacerbates water scarcity, particularly in drought-prone regions. Furthermore, removing sand from riverbeds alters natural river flows, increasing the risk of flooding during the rainy season, threatening nearby communities, infrastructure, and farmland.

The Environmental Management Agency’s education and publicity manager, Amkela Sidange, condemned these activities, emphasizing the legal responsibility of local authorities to protect critical areas and designate sites for sand extraction. “Local authorities are called upon to ring-fence natural resources under their jurisdiction for the benefit of current and future generations and to protect land that can be used for other commercial purposes,” she said. Sidange also noted that brick molding contributes to similar challenges.

“Sand poaching and brick molding by individuals in Mt Hampden are illegal activities. There are only a few companies holding permits from the relevant local authorities to operate legally on designated land,” she explained. Sidange added that the agency collaborates with the police to conduct random raids to deter poachers.

“Sand remains a resource under the custodianship of local authorities, as enshrined in Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, which mandates them to set aside designated sites for sand abstraction.”

Sand poaching undermines roads, bridges, and other infrastructure near extraction sites. Repairing and maintaining damaged infrastructure is costly for local governments and communities. While sand poaching provides cheap construction materials, it depletes a critical resource necessary for sustainable development. Unregulated extraction could lead to scarcity and higher construction costs in the future.

The competition for sand resources often leads to disputes between local communities, authorities, and poachers, disrupting social cohesion and, in some cases, escalating into violence. Sand poaching near schools and residential areas, such as Manresa Park, poses significant safety risks to children and residents.

Open pits left behind can cause accidents and become breeding grounds for diseases. Farmers and fisherfolk are particularly affected, as environmental degradation from sand poaching reduces their access to fertile land and aquatic resources.

Tinashe Costa Mwedziwendira, a director at Flint Hill Junior School near Cleveland Park in Manresa Park, expressed concerns about the dangers posed by nearby sand poaching activities. “At the moment, I can say that we have not been affected.

However, we fear for our pupils as these activities move closer to our boundaries. We implore authorities to respond accordingly. Last week, we witnessed a police confrontation with poachers, but they returned just days later,” he said.

Ashley Siyanwi, a Ruwa-based environmental activist, highlighted the accessibility of sand and its improper extraction methods.

“Sand is one of the most abundant resources on the Earth’s surface and does not require prospecting to mine, as it is easily identifiable. However, washing sand on riverbanks increases water turbidity, and haphazard extraction methods lead to the loss of arable land. This alters soil profiles and depletes nutrients,” Siyanwi explained.

Despite regulations, enforcement of anti-poaching laws remains weak due to corruption and a lack of resources. Sand poachers often operate without licenses, exploiting gaps in monitoring and oversight.

This weak governance enables organized sand poaching syndicates to thrive. While some argue that sand poaching provides employment for unemployed youth and cheap materials for construction, the long-term environmental and economic costs far outweigh these short-term benefits.