Story by Tapiwa Machemedze, Courage Bushe and Providence Maraneli
THE move by the government to ban alluvial mining activities has been welcomed in mining communities, which have for long been contending with land degradation, contamination and siltation of water bodies.
Bindura residents and the farming community in Mashonaland central will get a welcome relief following the ban on alluvial mining.
The mining activities were causing massive environmental degradation, particularly in the Mazowe River.
“The stopping of alluvial mining is good as our river was being damaged. We should get more water,” said one of the residents.
Another added, “Mining in the river was affecting farmers as they could no longer extract water from Mazowe river.”
Alluvial mining has for long been blamed for raising water treatment costs for the mining town, hence its ban was long overdue.
“As residents, we welcome the ban on riverbed mining. There were several negative factors caused by these practices. Siltation of the river is one of the problems, it also affects the water pumping equipment causing it to break down. The town incurred high water treatment cost,” said Bindura Allied Residents Trust secretary, Mr Talent Chingono.
Water and environment expert, Mr Joe Mupfupi said, “Our rivers are the source of life, especially Mazowe River in Bindura so the cabinet ban on alluvial mining was long overdue. Farmers were failing to extract water which spelt looming disaster for agriculture while flora and fauna were slowly dying.”
As the ban comes into effect, the Mazowe River is heavily silted and polluted, with the natural course of the river characterised by mounts of sand and pits left by both large-scale miners and small-scale gold planners.
Meanwhile, miners and farmers in Shurugwi district have hailed the decision by the government to ban riverbed mining in the town, saying it has come at the right time when environmental issues and sustainable mining were in question.
“This is a good call by the government, the call will promote international standards that prioritize responsible mining which is a measure to respect human rights deliver safe conditions for personnel and communities, and minimize environmental impacts,” said one of the residents.
Ministry of Local Government and Public Works former permanent secretary, Engineer George Mlilo has applauded the government for resolving to ban alluvial mining, saying the decision will positively impact on both urban and rural communities.
“I think this the best decision ever, in the sense that as an Engineer the state of dams pains me, it will take years to have our rivers flow and the level of degradation is regretted, farmers have lost cattle. Ncema, Mayfair, Umzingwane all which supply water to Bulawayo have been affected, so the decision will put to bed all these challenges,” he said.
Cabinet this Tuesday banned all forms of alluvial and riverbed mining in order to protect the environment, people and livestock.
