The board’s first port of call was Globe and Phoenix primary school in Kwekwe where illegal gold panners have extensively damaged the school’s infrastructure through their illegal activities. The board, led by EMA board chairman, Sheunesu Mpepereki, was forced to temporarily close the school to avert a possible disaster.
From Kwekwe, the board went to a new resettlement area in Neta where new farmers have abandoned their pieces of land in search of chrome ore.
“There is massive environmental degradation at Neta resettlement. The fields are now littered with huge trenches, some of them as deep as 10m. We have visited the area and ordered the immediate stop of illegal chrome ore extraction activities in the area,” said Mpepereki while addressing journalists in Bulawayo after the tour.
From Mberengwa, the team visited the Mzingwane River where an unidentified company and local gold panners have besieged the river, mining and prospecting for gold.
“In Mzingwane, we discovered that the river has actually been diverted and there are gaping tunnels and craters, some up to 20m deep along the riverbed. We also discovered that a company is involved and it is using heavy duty equipment to destroy the river,” said Mpepereki.
Mpepereki said the river, which is a major source of water for Beitbridge, West Nicholson, and Collen Bawn, has also been polluted with chemicals such as cynide.
The EMA board chairperson said EMA had ordered the company to cease all mining operations along the river.
The board also visited the Gwayi-Shangani area where Chinese mining firms have started prospecting for minerals and coal.
”As far as EMA is concerned, the situation in Gwayi is now under control. The mining companies there are only exploring for coal and there is no mining currently taking place in the area. These companies can only operate after EMA has issued an environmental Impact Assessment certificate,” said Mpepereki.
Contrary to Mpepereki’s claims, highly placed sources in the Gwayi conservancy told The Zimbabwean that some mining companies were involved in mining activities.
Mpepereki said his organization was greatly concerned by mining companies operating without Environmental Impact Assessment certificates. He said the mining operations were impacting negatively on communities’ livelihoods, health and safety.
The board is also set to visit Chiyadzwa in Manicaland where toxic effluent from Diamond mining companies is said to have severely polluted the Save river.
Post published in: Environment