Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
INDIVIDUALS who fail to rehabilitate the environment after the completion or abandonment of any commercial activities, including mining in areas under the jurisdiction of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Zvataida Rural District Council will now be liable to a US$5 000 fine.
This is contained in Statutory Instrument 83 of 2025 titled, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Zvataida Rural District Council (Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation) By-Laws, 2025 and were approved by Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe.
The UMP District is well-known for its black granite and gold, but villagers have long complained of environmental degradation and pollution caused by miners. Section 11 of the By-Laws lays out the new requirements.
“Any person who undertakes any project for commercial exploitation of natural resources, including mining projects, resource extraction projects with the effect of causing environmental damage or environmental degradation or harm in the council area shall — (a) submit to council a rehabilitation plan containing rehabilitation works that will be undertaken before abandonment or closure of the project;
(b) Rehabilitate the environment before abandonment or closure of the project.
“Council shall monitor the implementation of rehabilitation plans of projects with assistance from the Environmental Management Agency.
“Any person who fails to rehabilitate the environment after abandonment or closure of the project shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine specified in the Third Schedule,” reads part of the SI.
The fine stipulated in the schedule is US$5 000.
