Relief for small-scale miners

Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Government has scrapped consultation fees for small-scale miners to obtain Environmental Impact Assessment certificates.

The Environmental Management Agency has since designed an Environmental Management Plan Self-filling Template that no longer requires consultancy. The move comes barely days after Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who oversees EMA, made an undertaking to scrap the fee after consultations with her Mines and Mining Development counterpart Minister Winston Chitando over the issue.

Kadoma publicity and information officer Mr Knowledge Kabesa confirmed the development. “To those with mining claims, but do not have Environmental Impact Assessment certificates, EMA is giving the Environmental Management Plan templates that you just fill in with EMA assistance,” he said.

“You don’t need a consultant for the EMP. These EMPs are for mining projects only that do not include processing milling, hammer mills, cyanidation commonly referred as zviguruguru.”