Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
GOVERNMENT on Friday summoned representatives of coal mining and processing companies in Hwange over public concerns of pollution and environmental degradation that is adversely affecting local communities.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has also red flagged local authorities for failing to put in place proper solid waste management systems while illegal brick moulding and charcoal making is also causing environmental degradation.
Hwange Local Board’s 2024 budget proposal was rejected by the Government for failure to abide by guidelines meant to enhance service delivery, as well as failure to produce financial statements for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Hwange District has experienced an influx in mining investments under the Second Republic, which has seen big players setting base to tap into vast coal mining opportunities, mainly coke processing.
President Mnangagwa visited Hwange two years ago and toured some of the eleven companies that have been established, with 70 percent concentrating on coal mining.
The development has given birth to seven coke processing plants, with many more at various stages of completion. However, most of these companies stand accused of failing to control pollution leading to contamination of water sources and dust, which expose communities to diseases such as pneumoconiosis and dysentery.
Recently, the mining companies have been at loggerheads with communities in Hwange amid concerns over the extensive damage caused to public roads in Ngumija Township, as well as Deka, due to trucks carrying coal from the mines to the power station.
Mining activities have also seen an increase in pollution of water-bodies such as Deka and Lukosi rivers with some residents raising concerns over air pollution.
Speaking during a no-holds-barred stakeholders engagement, organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Cde Richard Moyo, read the riot act to polluters, stressing the need for them to immediately start addressing environmental concerns in their operations.
“We can’t just sit and turn a blind eye to the damage that is being done on our environment and roads. The state of affairs requires a holistic approach to ending the issues affecting the community in Hwange,” he said.
“We know which companies are polluting the air or water, so there is a need to take corrective measures and responsibility. We don’t want to be forced as Government to stop your operations.
“So, let’s bring to finality this issue that communities have been complaining about for years.”
In addition to preserving the environment, Minister Moyo challenged the mining companies to invest more in communities through enhancing social amenities such as water provision, construction of clinics and schools, as part of their social corporate responsibility.
“Locals should benefit from your investments not only through employment, which is commendable, but beyond that. Offering contracts to local companies is one way while also assisting with social amenities such as schools and clinics,” said the minister.
“The people must feel the benefit of your investments, especially considering that you are exploiting our natural resources and making millions of dollars out of it. We don’t want investors that come to exploit and leave nothing but suffering communities and a degraded environment.”
He also appealed to mining companies in Hwange, to adopt portions of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road, to make it trafficable again.
Presenting a report on the state of the environment in Hwange, EMA district environment officer, Mr Notani Ndlovu, said the growing mining activity has also brought with it adverse environmental degradation concerns that need swift responses.
“The increase in coal mining activities has had corresponding effects, which have seen a number of coke processing plants being established, with more at various stages of completion,” he said.
“This has resulted in a lot of pollution and land degradation with air pollution from the coking plants being one of the biggest concerns.
“There is dust from public roads damaged by haulage trucks ferrying bulk minerals to their destination. These companies are not committed to dust suppression measures, with pollution of rivers also becoming a great concern,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said acid mine drainage (AMD) from Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has become a perennial problem due to its legacy issue, which was affecting aquatic life and communities downstream due to contamination of the Deka River.
“Our mother company, the Colliery, is responsible for AMD, which is a major concern affecting downstream communities. The mining activities in general have led to serious environmental degradation and most of these companies are lagging behind in terms of rehabilitation.”
In their responses during plenary sessions, mining executives acknowledged the public concerns and pledged to take corrective measures to protect the environment and welfare of local communities.
HCCL acting managing director, Mr William Gambiza, appealed to the mining players to cooperate with the Government in preserving the environment and rolling out more corporate social responsibility projects, to enhance community benefits from mining.
Hwange mines district inspector, Mr Tawanda Zvavambiri said going forward, the Government should put a clause that compels companies to invest in communities.
“There’s need for a clause that compels mining companies to work on the environment. The damage to the road is being caused by the fact that they didn’t open roads, but continued using them.
“Corporate social responsibility is an important component that needs to be enforced with legislation,” he said.
Stakeholders who included heads of Government departments, civic society, Zanu-PF and members of the community, attended the meeting and also toured the Deka Road, to assess the level of damage and acid mine drainage treatment ponds.
The tour delegation, which was led by the permanent secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ms Sithandiwe Ncube, passed through Galpex Mine, which is responsible for the damage to Deka Road. Tempers flared as party members demanded the extensively damaged road to be repaired.
The company, which suspended operations due to lack of funding and is seeking for investors, has since committed to rehabilitating the 16km stretch of road.
Minister Moyo also ordered Galpex to rehabilitate the damaged Deka Road, as a condition to resume operations.
The delegation also toured Lokalize Mine, which was ranked as a model for sustainable mining due to its applications of mechanisms to rehabilitate mined out land.
The company, which is operating near the Hwange National Park, covers mined areas with topsoil mixed with manure before planting thousands of Mopane trees.
Online Reporter