By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Zimbabwe Government has stated that it will not renew licences for non-compliant miners who are not adhering to sustainable mining practices as it steps up efforts to arrest the massive environmental degradation witnessed in many districts across the country.
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) on Wednesday also warned artisanal and small-scale miners against the rampant illegal practices saying stricter enforcement of the law was looming.
Addressing delegates at the official launch of a three-day ZMF induction and stakeholder consultative workshop at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) in Darwendale, Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando said while Government recognised and supported artisanal mining operations that had seen huge gold contributions, renewal of mining licences would be subject to miners’ sustainable mining practices which were environmentally friendly and lawful.
He further stated “It is imperative that every miner complies with the sustainable mining initiatives. Before you (miners) start mining, you should submit your site of works plan to the Mines Ministry and get an Environmental Impact Assessment certificate from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“Once you start mining, make sure that you comply with the provisions of the environmental laws of the country. The level of environmental degradation taking place in some places is simply unacceptable.
“There will be a lot of initiatives to try and make sure that is corrected we will come up with measures to ensure that before the renewal of any mining concession, Government is satisfied that the miner is complying with environmental provisions.”
