Published: 31 January 2014

Zimbabwe's gold output marginally fell 2 percent last year after Government banned all mining activities along river banks in a bid to halt environmental degradation.

Gold output declined to 12,66 tonnes from about 14 tonnes produced a year earlier, figures obtained from the Finance and Economic Development Ministry show.

Small-scale miners, who produce about 60 percent of the country's gold, were mostly involved in gold panning along river beds.

In October last year, the Government directed that all mining activities along the river beds be stopped following realisation that the activities were affecting the communities downstream.

Some big producers also cut production following the decline in global prices last year.

Global gold prices fell 28% last year, notching up its biggest annual decline in 32 years as prospects for global economic recovery prompted investors to switch to riskier assets.
- herald

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