Harare Mayor advocates for regulated gravel mining at Warren Hills to safeguard residents

Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori said mining is also affecting the only water reservoir in Warren Hills and some cracks are developing.

Diana Nherera

Harare mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume has called for orderly mining of gravel at Warren Hills by private companies.

Cllr Mafume said the hills have become an eyesore, ugly, dusty and there’s an element of chaos in the mining.

“Roads are being damaged and the quality of life there has been reduced dramatically,” he said.

“When you look at the work being done at the Museum of African Liberation and you juxtapose it with what is happening at Warren Hills, you see ugliness, a mountain that is being literally torn apart and abused and in a dangerous, reckless manner.

“So that has to stop, and whoever is mining there has to stop. I think we need to put someone there who can rehabilitate the area so it ceases to be a danger to residents and their quality of life.”

Cllr Mafume tasked the City of Harare’s Environmental Management Committee to visit the area, interview the miners and residents and come up with a comprehensive solution.

“There was a discussion we were having, a company that had offered to rehabilitate that area and depending on the outcome of your committee, I am convinced that it’s the way to go. I think gravel can be mined elsewhere,” he said.

Cllr Mafume said carrying out roads works in Harare are also using the same gravel.

https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/uproar-over-warr…rk-gravel-mining/

“So it means that it is a source of gravel for the people. We are just not mining it in an orderly manner and we are not giving it to a person who has the capacity to run, rehabilitate the place,” he said.

“We are allowing a free-for-all, makorokoza (artisanal) type of mining. So let’s have a more orderly extraction and work within the frameworks.”

Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori said mining is also affecting the only water reservoir in Warren Hills and some cracks are developing.

Cllr Mafume urged Cllr Machirori to visit the place so that in their recommendations, there are clear indications where they are stopping and what is going to be done beyond just stopping.

Cllr Mafume’s sentiments came after Cllr Machirori told a full council last week that the mining is affecting social and economic activities and residents’ daily activities.

“Miners are mining less than 100 meters from residential areas and there is a lot of dust causing a health risk to residents,” he said.

“Residents also risk physical harm from rock falls.”

Cllr Machirori said last year, a mining worker was killed by falling rocks.

“It can happen to the residents as well,” he said.

Cllr Machirori said residents can no longer dry their laundry outside due to dust.