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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
Police in Magunje have arrested five Chinese who were allegedly involved in illegal alluvial gold mining along the Sanyati River in the Hurungwe District.
This comes after Government in August banned alluvial mining to protect the environment.
Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Ian Kohwera confirmed the arrest before referring further questions to national police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyati.
It is alleged that the five were conducting alluvial gold mining without mining and work permits and were using excavators and other heavy equipment.
They are expected to appear before Karoi Magistrate Court today.
Sanyati River after a total of 500 km, flows into Lake Kariba, the section of the Zambezi between the Kariba Dam and the Batoka Gorge, making it part of the Zambezi Basin.
The river rises in Mashonaland East, just north of Chivhu, and approximately 100 km south of Harare where it is known as Munyati.
The river is also joined by the Mupfure River before feeding into Zambezi River.
The above-mentioned rivers and, Manyame and Angwa Rivers in the province, have been under threat from alluvial and riverbed mining.
Due to the extensive environmental damage on the rivers and many others across the country, Government banned alluvial riverbed mining in August this year.
During a post-cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said the Government had considered and approved the report on Alluvial Mining and Rehabilitation of Degraded Rivers, which was presented by Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka, as chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment.
“Cabinet noted that, ever since its commencement in 2011 across the country’s rural provinces, large-scale and mechanical alluvial mining or riverbed mining has resulted in water pollution, siltation, degradation of river channels and disruption of riverine ecosystems.
“Cabinet directed that riverbed mining be banned with immediate effect,” he said.
In 2020, the Government also banned mining in National Parks and protected areas.
The ban followed an outcry by stakeholders on the announcement that some mining firms had been granted Special Grants under the Mines and Minerals Act with consent from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management to prospect for coal in the Hwange National Park. The ban was welcomed by various stakeholders and environmental protection players.
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