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Rumbidzai Mushonga – Herald Correspondent
Residents of Warren Park in Harare are sounding the alarm over the ongoing gravel mining activities in their neighborhood, citing environmental degradation.
The issues were brought to light during a tour that was organized by the Residents Against Land Degradation, the Combined Harare Residents Association, and the Network for Environmental and Climate Justice yesterday.
The tour was led by Mr Nixon Nyikadzino, the Warren Park coordinator responsible for the campaign.
According to the information obtained by the residents through an access to-information request, there are no formal tenders issued for gravel extraction in the area.
Instead, companies that win construction projects are granted permission to extract gravel from the Warren Park mountain, subject to paying a royalty fee.
“The royalty fee is supposed to cover gravel pit rehabilitation and maintenance of access roads, but residents are not seeing the benefits,” said Mr Nyikadzino.
Residents say the situation has become increasingly dangerous, with two children losing their lives after falling into the mining pits.
Mr Farai Kambamura, a Warren Park resident, said mining in residential areas is unacceptable.
“It’s impossible to mine in a residential area. There is no adequate distance from the mine area to the residential area. It’s very sad,” Mr Kambamura said.
Online Reporter