Post Reporter
ILLEGAL gold miners are disrupting critical river rehabilitation works in Penhalonga, Mutasa District, threatening efforts to restore damaged ecosystems and reverse years of environmental destruction caused by uncontrolled mining activities.
The miners are allegedly interfering with companies contracted to rehabilitate degraded river channels, making it increasingly difficult for them to carry out restoration works aimed at repairing landscapes ravaged by illegal mining.
The rehabilitation programme forms part of a broader initiative to address severe environmental degradation in the area, where years of unregulated alluvial gold mining have left rivers heavily silted, riverbanks destabilised and surrounding ecosystems damaged.
Businessman, Evans Kamombo has been accused of being among illegal miners operating within an area currently undergoing rehabilitation by Nubia Investments, a company contracted to restore damaged river systems.
Sources allege that heavy mining equipment was deployed into sections of the rehabilitation zone, undoing progress already made by contractors.
Repeated attempts to obtain comment from Kamombo were unsuccessful. His mobile phone went unanswered, while questions sent via WhatsApp had not been responded to by the time of going to print.
His lawyer, Mr Chris Ndlovu, said he was not in a position to comment as he had not received instructions from his client regarding the allegations.
“Unfortunately, I am not privy to that matter. While he is my client, I do not have instructions on the issue. I will need to confirm with his office so that we can provide a comprehensive response,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Tensions escalated over the weekend when a group of men armed with machetes reportedly descended on a rehabilitation site and allegedly forced employees from Nubia Investments to stop working.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of workers involved in environmental restoration projects and the continued impact of illegal mining operations in the district.
The Government moved to curb destructive mining activities in 2024 by banning alluvial mining in and along rivers and streams through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024. The Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) also prohibits mining activities within river channels.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that illegal riverbed mining contributes to siltation, water pollution, loss of aquatic life and increased risks of flooding, while undermining costly rehabilitation initiatives funded by both Government and private sector stakeholders.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said he was not aware of the alleged disturbances at the rehabilitation site.
Manicaland Provincial Mining Director, Engineer Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa, was unavailable for comment.
