adminLocadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says it highly concerned over human and livestock loss and land degradation caused by small-scale miners who are failing to reclaim pits once they have finished extracting minerals. EMA provincial education and publicity officer Mr Simon Musasiwa said there were numerous disused mine pits across the province with districts such as Shurugwi, Zvishavane and Mberengwa being the worst affected.
“Our recent survey in Zvishavane and Mberengwa revealed that there are 554 open pits with an average length of 377,25 metres, an average width of 21,5 metres and an average depth of 9,1 metres.
‘‘Shurugwi has 242 open pits and Lalapanzi 173.
“We also have some pits that have claimed the lives of people and livestock in Silobela and Kwekwe,” he said.
Mr Musasiwa said Shurugwi District accounted for 47,4 percent of deserted chrome mining sites in Chief Nhema’s area adding that the type of mining conducted was highly mechanised and involved the use of excavators and front-end loaders.
He urged miners to keep their areas of operation protected even after extraction.
“Miners are encouraged to practice what is called progressive backfilling on their mining operations and should fence off active areas to prevent the entry of animals into the mining areas”, he said.
He said to date 10 offenders in the chrome mining industry have been identified and issued with orders for the protection of the environment.
“As of last year up to now 10 offenders in the chrome mining industry have been identified and issued with orders for the protection of the environment.
These orders then compel the miners to rehabilitate the identified areas failure of which will result in prosecution and the possible cancellation of their EIA certificates thus stopping mining operations until such a time the offence is rectified,” he said.
He said disused mine pits were an environmental hazard and should be decommissioned to restore the environment to its previous state.
“Villagers have lost livestock and in some cases human life while others have been crippled after falling in these pits. Kwekwe and Shurugwi are also affected due to gold mining,” he said.
“We will continue with mine inspections.
‘‘We are working with local environmental committees in all the wards and districts to help us monitor activities of mining companies and artisanal miners to see if they are complying with our regulations regarding the environment.”
Online Reporter