Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
THE High Court has ordered Angel Hill Mining Private Limited, a Chinese mining company, to immediately halt its mining and desilting activities along Angwa River in Makonde District, Mashonaland West Province.
The ruling was made as the company failed to obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
High Court judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, has set conditions for the mining company to resume its activities.
He ruled that the company can only resume its operations after it has obtained the EIA certificate and approval from EMA to mine in the area.
In his application, the EMA director general argued that the Chinese company was operating illegally and should cease its activities until it gets authorisation.
In his ruling, Justice Chitapi emphasised the legal requirement for an EIA certificate.
“In my view, the applicant was entitled to the interdict he seeks because, as it stands, the respondent’s operations are being conducted outside the law,” Justice Chitapi stated.
“The court cannot permit the continuation of an illegality if it has been established.”
