Miners to rehabilitate rivers under "Polluter Pays...

Miners to rehabilitate rivers under "Polluter Pays Principle"

Oscar J. Jeke-Zim, Now Reporter

The government has intensified enforcement of the nationwide ban on alluvial mining, shifting its focus to rehabilitating degraded riverbanks under the “Polluter Pays Principle,” Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said on Tuesday.

The ban, effected through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024 on November 29 last year, outlaws alluvial mining activities along riverbeds and floodplains, including operations by permit holders.

Authorities say the measure is part of efforts to curb widespread environmental damage caused by the practice.

“Since alluvial mining has largely ceased, attention has now shifted to the rehabilitation of degraded sites, with liability for the rehabilitation being borne by the perpetrators through the ‘Polluter Pays Principle,’” Muswere said while presenting a Cabinet update.

He added that new regulations are being developed to strengthen enforcement and ensure “environmental justice and accountability in view of public interest.”

Alluvial mining has long been blamed for siltation, deforestation, water pollution, and the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, threatening water security for both rural and urban communities.

Government data shows no degraded sites requiring rehabilitation in Matabeleland North, Masvingo, Bulawayo, and Harare, while operations continue in other provinces.

The Environmental Management Agency, working with security forces, is monitoring compliance and leading restoration efforts.

Authorities say the ban is a step toward promoting sustainable mining practices and safeguarding natural resources for future generations. Offenders face fines, imprisonment, or both, under current law.