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Conrad Mupesa, Mashonaland West Bureau
Zimbabwe is ready for a significant pilot programme to reduce the use of mercury in small-scale and artisanal gold mining.
The initiative, spearheaded by PlanetGold Zimbabwe, is backed by a US$5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, which aims to modernise mining practices in the country.
The programme will start with 7 500 artisanal miners nationwide, introducing them to mercury-free technologies.
Project manager Ms Nyaradzo Mutonhori from PlanetGold Zimbabwe, said: “The beneficiaries will have access to mercury-free technologies and adopt processing methods that do not harm their health or the environment.”
The project also seeks to educate miners about the negative effects of mercury, which is often used to trap gold deposits.
A three-day workshop held in Kadoma recently brought together stakeholders, including Government officials, environmentalists, and representatives from non-governmental organisations.
Permanent Secretary for Environment, Climate and Wildlife Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba emphasised the importance of changing the mind-set of artisanal miners regarding mercury use.
“We need to raise awareness more than we focus on arrests or fines. These young women and men are looking for means of livelihood, but we must not let our economic pursuits come at the expense of the environment.”
Mr Chifamba said it was difficult to change established practices. The Government needed to include youths in the economic matrix, but without affecting the environment.
The project will implement technologies such as retorting and amalgamation in gold production. These methods not only aim to improve gold yields but also significantly reduce mercury exposure.
Ms Mutonhori said the tecnology was introduced in Uganda, where Zimbabwe has drawn positive examples and the Ugandan implementation sets a hopeful precedent for Zimbabwe’s initiative.
A steering committee overseeing the project includes representatives from several ministries, including Mines and Mining Development, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, and Health and Child Care.
This collaborative effort aims to provide comprehensive support to miners transitioning to safer practices.
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development chief engineer Mr Michael Munodawafa stressed the need for increased resources to engage artisanal miners.
“We have been running several awareness campaigns targeting the reduction of mercury use,” he said. “Most of our artisanal miners are not registered, posing a significant challenge in our fight against mercury.”
The pilot project aligns with the Government’s efforts to create a mercury-free gold mining sector, a goal that has been in discussion for over a decade.
“We need to foster sustainable mining practices that protect our environment while still providing livelihoods for our people,” said Mr Munodawafa.
Despite being a signatory to the Minamata Convention, which aims to phase out mercury use, Zimbabwe has yet to fully ban its use in mining. Instead, the Government is focusing on implementing controls for industrial operations and promoting the sustainable use of hazardous chemicals, particularly among illegal miners.
The environmental implications of mercury use are severe.
As a potent neurotoxin, mercury can damage the central nervous system and cause malformations in newborns.
It also contaminates food sources and groundwater, posing long-term health risks.
The Environmental Management Agency in Mashonaland West has previously fined mining companies for discharging mercury and cyanide into rivers, leading to the death of livestock, which highlights the urgent need for sustainable mining practices.
Online Reporter