The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
Up in the once picturesque and serene Chimanimani Mountain Range, the entire Bundi Plain — from Skeleton Pass to Digby Waterfalls — now resemble the strife-torn Nargono-Karabakh which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.
Endangered species of flora — the Aloe Munchii, Desortis, Neo cronita, the Cave squicker and the Aloe Howmanii — among many others that used to lure international tourists to the unique Chimanimani Mountains, are dying unnoticed.
Clean water sources are not only being destroyed, but left to pose long term serious health risk to consumers downstream.
Highly regarded sacred places are not being spared.
The famous Bubbling Spring which was sacred and used for ritual purposes, especially during the liberation war, has since been robbed of its sanctity and spiritual value.
Chief Chikukwa Chikukwa confirmed this: “It is sad that some of the areas that we used to respect, holding our traditional rituals there, have been defiled by artisanal miners.”
This is all happening within the environs of a yesteryear world class tourism and ecological conservation site that encompasses the Chimanimani National Parks designated areas.
In 1997 when the tourism industry was at its peak in the district, Chimanimani was second to Victoria Falls in terms of the number of international and regional tourist arrivals.
Chimanimani received more tourists than Nyanga, Hwange, Matopos and Great Zimbabwe.
This was largely due to conservation of environmentally or ecologically sensitive sites dotted across the largely remote district.
Natural waterfalls, pork pie shaped mountains, hot springs, wildlife, and the cool weather are part of a long list of irresistible things that made Chimanimani unique.
But these animals, plants and areas have since been vandalised as artisanal miners, in their hundreds, are digging deep into the earth in search of the precious metal.
Extensive destruction of the Chimanimani Mountain Range by artisanal miners — at times in cahoots with unscrupulous rangers — has been allowed to prevail at an environmental and ecological cost.
But even during times of economic hardships, progressive citizens need to boldly advocate for the exploitation of natural resources without denying future generations the same.
As dictated by Development Studies, sustainable development is the exploitation of natural resources to meet current needs while preserving the same for future generations.
Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu admitted that mining in Chimanimani National Park area is a major cause for concern.
“We are concerned. The mountain itself, besides being part of a Department of National Parks area, is a key tourist attraction. I have been advised that parks and our security cluster are working closely and have teams manning the area.
“The mining taking place in Chimanimani Mountains is illegal. We expect law enforcement agents to do their duty and curb all illegal activities,” said Minister Ndlovu.
“I hope the situation will remain under control. Going forward, illegal mining activities must not happen there. Chimanimani is a beautiful place and we cannot afford to let this go on. In fact, we now have the burden of rehabilitating the area,” he said.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo says the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown worsened the situation in the tourism sector.
“Covid-19 brought life to a standstill and as a department, it has also affected us in a number of ways. Our monitoring and security alert levels were affected due to the de-congesting taking place in our workplaces,” said Mr Farawo in a recent interview with The Manica Post.
While the illegal panners are going on with their activities, the voice of reason is calling for a stop to wanton destruction of flora and fauna as well as sustainable exploitation of minerals for the good of the environment.
Due to the need to conserve the environment, many derived employment and livelihoods from preservative or conservation initiatives.
This explains the anger and exasperation displayed by stakeholders in the environment and conservation sector in Chimanimani District.
“I don’t have adequate words to describe how l feel. The felling of indigenous trees and destruction of river beds in search of pitiful amounts of gold is disturbing. We have placed unsustainable stress on the ecosystems. This is the very ecosystem which provides the water, clean air and healthy soils indispensable for our survival,” said Chimanimani conservation icon, Ms Jane High.
Chimanimani East Member of the House of Assembly, Honourable Joshua Sacco, under whose jurisdiction the mountain range falls, concedes that the environment needs to be protected.
Honourable Sacco said artisanal miners need to be allocated areas to operate from.
“I think there is need to formalise all mining activities in Chimanimani so that it can be done in a properly sustainable and environmentally friendly manner where we do not destroy the environment for future generations.
“Chimanimani is under a reserved area, which means our small-scale miners cannot claim pieces of land for mining like they do in areas such as Odzi and Penhalonga. Here they depend on special grants.
“However, that is expensive and the process is costly for our small-scale miners. We should not stop mining, but we should explore ways for people to mine properly while mindful of the need to preserve the environment,” said Honourable Sacco.
Zimbabwe recently banned mining in all its national parks and riverbeds.
Honourable Sacco said: “That is a progressive move and I salute Cabinet for that. We should try to formalise mining operations in all areas outside the national parks.”
