In a decisive move to combat severe environmental degradation, the Zimbabwean government has announced an immediate ban on all riverbed and alluvial mining activities. The ban was unveiled by Information Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere following a Cabinet meeting where a critical report was presented by Dr. Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
The report detailed the extensive environmental damage caused by these mining practices, which include significant water pollution, siltation, degradation of river channels, and disruption of local ecosystems. The negative impact on the environment has prompted the government to take urgent action to mitigate further damage.
In Bulawayo, illegal gold panning has exacerbated the city’s water crisis, particularly around the decommissioned Umzingwane Dam. The dam, now at a critically low capacity of just two percent, has suffered extensive damage to its banks, significantly threatening the city’s water resources. The dire state of the dam means it may not recover without substantial intervention or extreme weather events.
Bulawayo’s overall dam levels stand at just 32 percent, with illegal mining activities further compromising the integrity of the city’s water infrastructure. Mayor David Coltart has expressed grave concern over how these activities, combined with other unregulated practices, are hindering the replenishment of rainwater in the dams, worsening the city’s ongoing water crisis.
The ban on riverbed and alluvial mining marks a critical step in addressing the environmental and infrastructural damage caused by these activities. The government’s move reflects a growing recognition of the need to balance resource extraction with environmental conservation and sustainable management practices.
In other news – Zimbabwean immigrants seek Human Rights support amid intensified crackdowns in South Africa
Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa are increasingly turning to human rights organizations for assistance as they face intensified harassment from South African authorities and citizens. The situation has worsened following a series of raids by South African police, supported by local residents, in the wake of the formation of a government of national unity (GNU) between the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance, and smaller parties.
In a letter dated August 17, 2024, addressed to the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), Zimbabwean national Collen Makumbirofa raised urgent concerns about the recent crackdown spearheaded by South Africa’s new Home Affairs Minister, Leon Amos Schreiber. Read More
