Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has raised the red flag on the increase in cases of illegal mining activities that disregard the safety of the public resulting in loss of life and environmental degradation.
In a statement, EMA environmental education and publicity manager, Ms Amkela Sidange said recently two children, aged eight and 13 drowned in a pool at Kingdom Five Mine in Insiza, Matabeleland South Province.
She said a sample survey they conducted recently on 49 illegal mining sites across the country showed that approximately 1 000 hectares have been degraded due to illegal mining.
Ms Sidange said another survey showed that an estimated 100 000 ha and a stretch of 1 555km of riverine ecosystems was degraded due to illegal mining country wide.
She urged miners to uphold a responsible mining behaviour and strive to restore land to its best productive state after mining.
Ms Sidange said restoring the land will also enable the land to be used for other economic activities.
She said violators of environmental laws of the country risk prosecution.
“The Environmental Management Agency has noted with concern the rise in cases where mining is being done in a manner that disregards the safety of the public and integrity of the environment. This follows recent mishaps associated with mining especially due to illegal mining across the country, some resulting in fatalities,” she said.
Some months ago, a classroom block at Globe and Phoenix School in Kwekwe collapsed into underground tunnels leaving scores of learners at the school nursing injuries and the school counting losses while in the same neighbourhood, a house also collapsed into another tunnel.
“As if that was not enough recently in Kwekwe again, the agency issued an environmental protection order for cessation of mining operations within the environs of Camelot Group of Schools which were in fact being implemented without an environmental impact assessment (EIA) licence,” said Ms Sidange.
She called on miners to exercise due diligence in their mining operations by always ensuring they follow all the tenets of sustainable mining and save the environment, lives and property.
Ms Sidange said the agency is dealing with the rising illegal mining activities in the country and wants them stopped.
“It is worrisome that land is turned into a wasteland due to illegal mining, rendering it unproductive and unsafe. Large tracts of land are now characterised by ugly pits as deep as over 30 metres as a result of illegal miming which is also fuelling biodiversity loss,” she said.
Ms Sidange urged community members to report illegal mining activities.
She said all those who intend to go into mining have to follow the First Schedule of the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27).
“Any person who knowingly implements a project in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a maximum fine of level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment,” said Ms Sidange.
“However, issuance of an EIA certificate does not give green light for mining to disregard environmental protection and public safety, but to comply with all provisions or conditions of certification. Failure to comply can result in the amendment, suspension or cancellation of the certificate as provided for in Section 104 of the same Act.”–@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu