The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
In an effort to restore the source of livelihoods for affected communities, Parliament is working at coming up with sustainable solutions to the rampant mining activities happening along the country’s rivers.
This has had a negative impact on food production. Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development chairperson and Shurugwi South legislator, Honourable Edmond Mukaratigwa said Mutare and Mazoe Rivers are among the most affected water sources.
He said Parliament is in the process of coming up with recommendations on how to deal with the menace. Honourable Mukaratigwa was speaking during the committee’s tour of Premier Estate in Mutasa District, where illegal gold miners and private companies are carrying out riverbed mining along Mutare River.
The committee was also investigating the incident where at least 10 illegal miners are suspected to have been buried alive in shafts during a reclamation exercise.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines, together with the Portfolio Committee on Environment, has been sanctioned by Parliament to go around the country in view of the rampant riverbed mining that is occurring here in Penhalonga, Mazoe and other mining areas.
“We have an approved outreach programme that will take us across the country to ascertain the extent of the damage and come up with mitigatory measures that will enable desiltation of rivers in a formal, programmed manner to see our rivers flowing smoothly again,” he said.
Premier Estate was originally a farming area where hundreds of farmers were resettled before mining activities began, thereby leading to massive destruction of the environment. As a result, Mutare River, which was the main source of irrigation water supply to the estate, is now clogged with silt.
“We found out that Mutare River has actually been diverted by mining activities and these are well within the proximity of settlements, which means humans, especially children, have been put in danger. The same applies to the people’s livestock and other forms of their livelihoods,” he said.
Hon Mukaratigwa said the economic value expected from the area has diminished, thus bringing about poverty. He said villagers indicated that before 2008, the area was largely reliant on agricultural activities and mining activities.
“We need to rethink and revisit these mining activities and involve everyone to come up with a workable solution and recommendations that will see our rivers flowing again, with livelihoods being restored,” he said.
