Published: 11 October 2013

Government has with immediate effect banned mining all activities across the country along river beds to halt environmental degradation.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa told delegates attending the Confederation of Zimbabwe industry in Bulawayo that he and his counterpart Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Saviour Kasukuwere have instructed that all mining along rivers should be immediately halted following realisation that the activities were affecting the communities downstream.

The minister said some miners have since moved from panning and were now using highly mechanised equipment.

The minister's statement follows revelations that eleven mining firms extracting gold along the Mazowe River in Mashonaland Central were using chemicals with potential toxic effects and have been doing so without an environmental impact assessment certificate, posing serious health hazards.

It also emerged that their mining activities are not consistent with environmental regulations.

The certificate is issued by the Environmental Management Agency.

This came out during a tour conducted by Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland Central, Advocate Martin Dinha, local Members of Parliament and officials from EMA and other senior Government officials.
- herald

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