Martin Muleya
The Zimbabwean government’s recent ban on riverbed mining in Penhalonga, Mutare has been met with skepticism by many, with Civic Based Organizations (CBOs) questioning the motivations behind the move and its potential effectiveness.
Despite Government’s claims that the ban is aimed at protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable mining practices, some argue that the move may be too little, too late, and that underlying issues remain unaddressed.
Government this week banned with immediate effect bmining along the Mutare river and other rivers around the country.
In a post- cabinet briefing on Tuesday , governmemt ordered cessation of all mining activities along Mutare river, Nyagadzi in Chendambuya, Mazowe, Munyati, Insiza, Save and Angwa among others. The Minister of Information, Media, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, said the commencement of large-scale and mechanical alluvial mining has led to significant destruction of rivers and disruption of riverine ecosystems, hence the cabinet has moved to impose an immediate ban on riverbed mining.
“Cabinet considered and approved th report on Alluvial Mining and Rehabilitation of Degraded Rivers, which was presented by the 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 noted that since its commencement in 2011 across the country’s rural provinces, large-scale and mechanical alluvial mining, or riverbed mining, has resulted in water pollution, siltation, degradation of river channels, and disruption of riverine ecosystems. Cabinet directed that riverbed mining be banned with immediate effect,” Muswere said.
Centre for Research Development (CRD) executive director James Mupfumi told journalists during a press briefing that his organisation had been following riverbed mining bans since 2014 and was instrumental in making sure DTZ OGEO that was practising riverbed mining in Penhalonga stopped operations forthwith.
Mupfumi hinted that Government was not committed on banning riverbed mining as they repealed the SI of 2014 four years later and riverbed mining became lawful.
“We have been following these announcements from as far as 2014 and we are part of the group that spearheaded to ensure that DTZ OGEO riverbed mining operations were banned. After ban Government came up with a Statutory Instrument that formalised the ban but after that we had challenges because in 2018 the ban was lifted. Government must review the lifting of the ban because of environmental concerns around mining in Mutare river, degradation of riverbanks and chemical pollution of aquatic life.
“In 2020 Government announced they are banning again riverbed mining. What followed after the ban there was little restrictions on the SI. It was not banned but given conditions, there were discretionary powers given to the Minister that in exceptional circumstances alluvial mining can be allowed in the river that is why we started to see licence for Zimgold and also other special grants being issued by the Minister of Mines,” explained the CRD boss.
He noted that when one takes a scrutiny of mining operations in Penhalonga there are third parties practising riverbed mining but do not have relevant papers permitted to do ming this there is a manipulation of special grants by individuals connected to political parties.
Another critic Tapiwa Masanga from Penhalonga Development Trust (PDT) pointed out that the ban may be an attempt to deflect attention from the government’s own complicity in the environmental degradation caused by riverbed mining, which has been linked to widespread deforestation, water pollution, and displacement of local communities. Moreover, the ban may not address the root causes of the problem, including corruption and a lack of effective regulation, which have allowed illegal mining operations to flourish in the first place.
As such, some argue that the ban may be a mere smokescreen, and that meaningful change will require a more comprehensive and transparent approach to addressing the complex issues surrounding riverbed mining in Penhalonga.
“We are civil society groups and residents trust working in resource rich communities where riverbed mining is taking place. We strongly recommended against riverbed mining from it’s onset in 2010. Mining in the river degrade water sources, contaminate aquatic ecosystem and destroy natural ecosystem.
“As citizens voice we continue to exert pressure on Government to review mining in the rivers. Government has of late been either granting or renewing special licences for companies to undertake riverbed mining.
The implications has been a worst case of manipulation of licences. Residents of Penhalonga have been fighting with miners against the provisions of the mines on the Minerals Act which prohibit mining to take place within 50m of a homestead,” added Masanga.
