Government has banned with immediate effect all mining activities in the country’s national parks.
Addressing the media earlier this evening during a post cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said all the necessary measures were being put in place for the implementation of this decision.
“Steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining titles held in national parks,” she said.
Government’s decision comes barely a week after it was reported that two Chinese firms, Zhongxin Coal Mining Group and Afrochine Smelting had received the nod from authorities to commence environmental assessments at two proposed sites inside the Hwange National Park.
The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association had registered displeasure over Chinese mining grants inside the Hwange national park.
ZELA had said in an urgent application at the Harare High Court that any form of mining inside the 14,651 square-kilometre nature reserve “poses an acute risk of irreversible ecological degradation.”
Minister Mutsvangwa also said Cabinet considered a paper which was co-presented by the Ministers of Mines and Mining Development and Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry on the status of riverbed mining/drenching and the environmental challenges.
“Having noted the challenges and the need to put in place measures to carry out sustainable mining operations in the sector, Cabinet directed all riverbed alluvial and riverbed mining on rivers is banned with immediate effect, except on the Save and Angwa rivers where desiltation will be allowed under very strict conditions,” said the Information Minister.
Minister Mutsvangwa added, ” All those holding mining concessions will be given a grace period to be announced to obtain Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and State of Works Plan acceptance by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
It was noted that the granting of mining concessions through mining claims and on special grant is not a license for resumption of mining.
All holders of mining title are required to obtain approval of EIA and acceptance of site plan works by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development.
This position will be strictly reinforced by the two ministries responsible for Mines and Environment.
“Those who fail to regularize EIA and Site Plan Works will be deemed to be operating illegally and will be subject to stiff penalties which are being reviewed.
“The whole objective is to have all mining operations conducted in a manner which does not harm the environment. Stiff penalties shall be aimed at all those who are not complying with environmental provisions.”
