Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Mashonaland Central has embarked on a widespread awareness campaign to ensure reclamation of open pits to curb accidents and protect the environment during the rainy season.
A cross section of miners in Mashonaland Central have responded to calls by EMA to reclaim land in order to mitigate degradation during the rainy season.
At Sheunopa Mutonda mining company, a solar plant is being erected to provide power supply on a reclaimed open pit.
“In line with government’s drive for us to conserve our working environment as well as rehabilitate the opens pits which we dug and planting trees in our areas, we saw it fit to join government in environmental protection, we are installing a solar plant where we used to dig and this will power all our operations,” Sheunopa Mutonda Mining’s director Mr Canaan Mutonda said.
Mondo 3 Mine executive director, Mr. Bright Maunga outlined tree planting initiatives being undertaken.
“Were we have completed working, we fill pits and open only where we are mining. Now we are in the rainy season, we plant trees, we have gum trees and some indigenous trees. We also plant grass to safeguard the environment so that when we walk, we or livestock don’t fall into pits. We also ensure chemicals do not spill into the ground so that they don’t contaminate water bodies,” he said.
EMA Mashonaland Central, Environment and Publicity Officer Mr Maxwell Mupotsa urged all registered miners to prioritise progressive rehabilitation especially during the rainy season.
“We are already in the rainy season and as we come to the last quarter of the year, we urge small medium and large scale miners to close all mined-out pits and to do progressive rehabilitation. Miners should take advantage of the rainy season to revegetate these mined out areas. Part of the EIAs for the mining sector require them to submit quarterly reports on all the areas they have rehabilitated.”
Safe and sustainable mining practices are a key pillar of government’s mining sector growth targets by the year 2030.
