Chronicle Editor
Taboka Tshuma, Sunday News Reporter
LIVESTOCK farmers in the West Nicholson area of Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province, have expressed concern over the proliferation of abandoned pits created by illegal miners that have turned into treacherous death traps for their animals.
As small-scale and unregistered miners scour the land for gold and other minerals, they leave behind numerous unmarked and poorly maintained excavations, creating dangerous conditions for livestock that roam freely in search of pastures.
The farmers claim that the miners, driven by the quest for quick profits from illegal activities, show little regard for the safety and welfare of the community.
The situation has reached alarming levels, with reports indicating that dozens of animals have fallen into the unprotected pits, sustaining serious injuries or dying from exposure and starvation.
“The situation is dire. We’ve lost count of how many animals have fallen into these hazardous pits. It’s heart-breaking to see our livestock suffer like this,” lamented Mr Ponolo Max Gwate, a distressed farmer from the area.
“These miners come in, dig indiscriminately, and leave without any thought for the consequences of their actions on our community and our livelihoods.”
Ms Nosisa Mafu, another local farmer, echoed Mr Gwate’s frustrations, stating, “We’ve tried to engage with the miners, but they just ignore us. They’re solely focused on extracting minerals without any concern for the repercussions. We feel utterly powerless.”
The issue has significant effects not only on the farmers’ immediate economic stability but also on the broader environmental and social fabric of the communities. Farmers said the illegal mining activities not only threaten their livestock but also degrade grazing pastures, further diminishing the carrying capacity of the land.
“Already, we’ve faced challenges due to drought conditions. We cannot afford to lose any more animals, it would devastate our livelihoods,” said Ms Mafu.
In light of the growing crisis, local farmers are urgently calling on Government authorities to intervene and impose restrictions on mining activities in the district.
Their key demands include holding miners accountable for the hazards they create—specifically, to cover the dangerous pits and compensate the farmers who have lost livestock due to negligence.
“We are in desperate need of urgent action. Our livestock is our lifeblood. We can’t bear to see more of our animals perish due to reckless illegal mining,” said Ms Mafu.
In response to the escalating concerns, Mr Simon Musasiwa, the Matabeleland South provincial education and publicity officer for the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), acknowledged the challenges presented by illegal mining activities.
He said EMA encourages all miners to regularise their operations by obtaining the necessary mining and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificates.
He emphasised that “open pits pose a significant risk to livestock, leading to injury and death while also degrading pastures, reducing the land’s overall carrying capacity.”
Mr Musasiwa further urged miners to take an active role in rehabilitating disused pits and shafts, as well as fencing off active mining sites to prevent livestock and unauthorised personnel from wandering into dangerous areas.
“We understand the necessity of mining in our economy, but it must be conducted responsibly. We must protect our farmers and their livelihoods while managing our natural resources sustainably,” he said.
He added that there was a need for a balance between economic development and environmental protection.
Online Reporter