Again, the government has banned alluvial mining, according to an announcement by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere in a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.
This will be the second time the cabinet has made this pronouncement having previously prohibited this environmentally harmful practice in October 2020. This prompts a critical reflection of a recurring directive without adequate statutory backing.
In his words, Dr. Muswere said the cabinet noted concerns from a report on Alluvial Mining and Rehabilitation of Degraded Rivers by an inter-ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment to pronounce the ban.
“Cabinet considered and approved the 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, ever 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,” he said.
As riverbed mining once again goes underwater, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) warns of the inadequacy of mere pronouncements of Cabinet decisions and government directives without statutory backing.
“These directives lack the necessary teeth to prevent environmental degradation and ensure responsible mining practices.”
CNRG notes with concern that the consequence of alluvial mining poses a serious threat to ecosystems and biodiversity, with far-reaching and harmful effects on humans.
Riverbed mining has had devastating environmental and social consequences, including, the destruction of aquatic plants and animals, water scarcity, and pollution which undermines food sovereignty in affected regions.
CNRG executive director Farai Maguwu cautions that government pronouncements, no matter how well-intentioned, are not enough to curb the negative impacts of riverbed mining without amending the law.
Maguwu says without a legal framework, risks associated with riverbed mining, including environmental damage and community displacement, will continue to persist, undermining efforts to promote sustainable development and protect the environment.
“We are reminding the government that a similar ban was announced four years ago, they are therefore repeating the same thing that they did in 2020.
“Our call then and now is that, merely announcing a cabinet decision is not enough. Government should expedite the amendment of the Mines and Minerals Act and the Environmental Management Act and formalize the ban in our statutes,” he said.
“The bigger goal is not about protecting the environment. It is about protecting ourselves from the calamities to come. The environment has been here and will outlive us all, and will most probably heal itself from the violence we are inflicting on it. But we must know that for all our transgressions against nature, we shall be punished and sadly many shall pay for crimes they did not commit,” he added
CNRG underscores the importance of progressive regulation in promoting sustainable mining practices to protect the environment and local communities from the negative impacts of alluvial mining.
“While the Cabinet’s decision to ban riverbed mining is a significant win for environmental protection, sustainable mining, and protection of local communities, we stress that effective implementation is key. CNRG calls on authorities to ensure that the law is enforced, through enhanced enforcement which recognizes and includes local communities in this process.”
Zimbabwe’s parent mining law, the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05) of 1961, has become outdated and no longer align with modern national and international mining law developments.
The Act has several shortcomings, which have necessitated the introduction of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill (H.B. 10, 2022), in development since 2007.
CNRG calls for holistic amendments to address some of the key challenges including but not limited to the following:
– The lack of recognition and support for artisanal and small-scale miners
– The absence of local mineral beneficiation, which hinders the country’s ability to maximize economic benefits from its mineral resources
– Inadequate mechanisms for resolving disputes between farmers and miners, as well as disputes over mining titles
– Other outdated provisions that hinder the development of a modern and sustainable mining industry
The proposed amendments should bring Zimbabwe’s mining laws into line with international best practices, promote sustainable development, and ensure that the country’s mineral resources are exploited responsibly and equitably.