adminConrad Mupesa Herald Correspondent
Makonde Rural District Council will soon engage artisanal miners operating in its district to curb rampant environmental degradation caused by poor mining practices.
Council chairperson Councillor Simbarashe Ziyambi said the district was under threat from sporadic and untimely mining practices, particularly by artisanal miners.
“It is not a secret that mining activities by artisanal miners currently underway across the district and the whole country are threatening our environment as the miners do not restore the sites they have worked on,” he said.
“Those poorly mined sites become a burden and a menace as they are very expensive for local authorities to restore and more often than not it is never done due to shoestring budgets.
“The mine shafts and open cast sites have become a danger to people and animals.”
Clr Ziyambi said there was need to engage the miners and other responsible ministries considering the fact that artisanal mining had become a lifeline for youths and women in the district.
“The council wanted to teach miners to do their work properly and recognised it would have to call on the ministries responsible for mining and home affairs to help,” he said.
“We are aware of the fact that artisanal mining has created jobs for a number of people in the district and has seemingly opened up opportunities for miners coming from other areas, hence, our engagement will be focused not on ending their careers, but seeking ways to sustain our environment.”
Makonde district has had a number of sporadic gold rushes that has resulted in rich pickings for some people. A visit to Mhangura constituency’s Ward 3, 4 and 11 found rampant illegal mining activities in areas like Ponderosa, Divonia and Two Tree village 12.
In areas like Kenzamba and Musoromuchena, vast areas have been turned into deep open pits that are a danger to people and livestock.
The visits also revealed that the Environmental Management Agency was already at work, making the miners in the district aware of the need for sustainable mining activities.
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