adminEnvironmental Management Agency for using environmentally friendly methods of mining and rehabilitating over 60 hectares of land it mined in the past four years.
Speaking after a tour of DTZ-OZGEO Pvt Limited, EMA provincial manger Mr Kingstone Chitotombe said out of over 100 mining companies in Manicaland, DTZ-OZGEO was leading by example.
“DTZ-OZGEO is using environmentally friendly mining methods and since its mining activities started it has managed to rehabilitate 60 hectares of mined land.
“We have not seen such kind of expertise in the Zimbabwe.
“This is the first company to reclaim land as most old mining companies have left thousands of hectares open and degraded,” Mr Chitotombe said.
He said most mining firms using open cast method had left open pits in areas such as Hwange, Kamativi, Bubi, and several other mining areas in Mashonaland Central Matabeleland North and South.
He said Government enacted the Environmental Act in 2003 and a section under the Impact Assessment Policy stipulates that all mining firms rehabilitate mined land for other activities such as agriculture.
Mr Chitotombe noted that small-scale miners were, however, the major culprits as they were causing massive land degradation.
Addressing journalists during the media tour dubbed “nationalising the local in environmental journalism”, DTZ-OZGEO managing director Victor Kuslya said the company’s policy was to conduct mining activities in line with the Kimberly Process Certification to save the environment.
He said the firm had spent almost 40 percent of its expenditure towards rehabilitation programme.
“So far we have managed to rehabilitate 60 hectares of the land and we have mined and spent about 40 percent on the rehabilitation programme,” Mr Kuslya said.
He said the land as now
being utilised for agricultural purposes.
“Last season we managed to get 50 tonnes of maize from the land and this time we want to try and put soya beans, vegetables and other crops,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion DTZ-OZGEO director Mr Ismail Shillaev said the firm has a major role in assisting the people in the area they are mining.
“The company has given and is still giving assistance to many communities, groups, organisations and institutions over the whole period of its operation.
The company he said was supporting schools, hospitals, orphanages, local farmers, arts and culture, churches, the police, Manicaland Paralympic Association, the Lions Club, Rural District Councils and traditional chiefs.
DTZ-OZGEO board member Mr Wellington Chando also said DTZ-OZGEO was a joint venture between the Zimbabwean and Russian Governments and the idea of founding the firm was initiated by the late
Vice President Cde Joshua
Nkomo.
Since it started mining alluvial gold along the Mutare River from 2007 to May 2011 a 4,5-kilometre area has been extracted using open cast mining methods.
“During the period of time over 900 kilogrammes of placer gold has been mined,” he said.
He said the company has another mining claim in Chimanimani where it discovered diamonds and would soon commence operations.
The media tour was organised by the Zimbabwe Environmental Journalists Association whose patron in the Minister of Environment Francis Nhema.
ZEJA chairman Mr Farai Matebvu said the association seeks to help journalists rise to the challenge of reporting on environmental issues.
The association also gives journalists a stronger voice as well as a forum for exchanging ideas, resources and best practice.
Online Reporter