FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Harare, Zimbabwe – 4 June 2026
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) acknowledges the Government of Zimbabwe’s declaration of a State of Disaster for Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation following the extensive degradation of river systems caused by both legal and illegal mining activities.
The declaration covers seventeen rivers across the country, including the Mazowe, Murowodzi, Save, Angwa, Sanyati, Munyati, Mupfure, Umzingwane, Insiza, Manzimudaka, Mutebekwi, Mtshingwe, Mutare, Haroni and Nyamukwarara rivers, among others. These rivers have suffered severe ecological damage, loss of biodiversity, siltation, altered water flows and pollution resulting largely from poorly regulated mining operations.
The Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation) Notice 2026 was published in a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government Gazette published on 2 June.
“As a result of the need to properly rehabilitate riverine ecosystems throughout Zimbabwe that have been adversely affected by legal and illegal alluvial mining activities, a state of disaster exists throughout Zimbabwe with effect from the promulgation of this declaration,” reads the notice.
The declaration of a State of Disaster is a damning indictment of Zimbabwe’s failure to regulate mining activities. It is a clear admission at the highest level that unchecked and poorly regulated mining has inflicted severe damage on river ecosystems, biodiversity, water resources, and the communities that depend on them. For years, CNRG has consistently called on the Government to strengthen oversight, enforce environmental laws, and hold mining operators accountable. This declaration confirms what affected communities and environmental advocates have long warned: without effective regulation, mining can become a driver of ecological destruction and social harm rather than sustainable development.
While CNRG welcomes the recognition of this environmental crisis and the urgency attached to rehabilitation efforts, we caution that the declaration could be vulnerable to misuse if robust safeguards are not put in place. There is a real risk that mining activities could be conducted under the guise of river rehabilitation, further worsening environmental destruction while benefiting private interests.
Zimbabwe has previously witnessed instances where “rehabilitation” permits, and river restoration initiatives have been exploited to facilitate commercial extraction of minerals from sensitive ecosystems. Without transparency, public oversight and clear regulatory frameworks, the current intervention may inadvertently create opportunities for renewed exploitation rather than genuine restoration.
CNRG is particularly concerned that rehabilitation of degraded river ecosystems requires specialised environmental, hydrological, geological and ecological expertise. River restoration is not simply an extension of mining operations. It demands scientific assessments, rehabilitation plans, environmental monitoring and community participation to ensure damaged ecosystems are restored rather than further disturbed.
The involvement of mining companies in rehabilitation activities must therefore be approached with caution. Companies with interests in riverbed extraction, including those that have previously operated in alluvial mining zones, should not be granted unrestricted access under the banner of rehabilitation. Any participation by private entities must be subject to strict environmental standards, independent oversight, transparent contracts and public disclosure of activities.
The Government should also ensure that companies linked to river rehabilitation initiatives, including operators such as Primascopic, Better Brands in Mutare River and Prevail Group International in Mazowe are subjected to rigorous environmental due diligence, public scrutiny and accountability mechanisms. The rehabilitation programme must not become a vehicle for resource extraction disguised as environmental restoration.
CNRG further calls for:
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- The publication of clear criteria governing river rehabilitation activities;
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- Independent environmental impact assessments for all proposed interventions;
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- Meaningful participation of affected communities, local authorities and civil society organisations;
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- Regular public reporting on rehabilitation activities, budgets and outcomes;
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- Independent monitoring by environmental experts and academic institutions;
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- Strong enforcement measures against any entity found conducting mining activities under the cover of rehabilitation.
The environmental devastation witnessed in Zimbabwe’s rivers is the cumulative result of years of weak regulation, inadequate enforcement and unsustainable mining practices. Genuine rehabilitation is urgently needed. However, success will depend on transparency, accountability and a commitment to ecological restoration rather than resource extraction.
Zimbabwe’s rivers are a national heritage and a critical source of water, livelihoods and biodiversity. The State of Disaster declaration must be used to heal these ecosystems, not to create new avenues for their exploitation.
For further information:
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Website: https://cnrgzim.org/