THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) says illegal mining activities are contributing to failure of environmental sustainability and worsening environmental degradation.
ZFU made the remarks during the 84th annual congress held at the Lakeside Events Centre in Bulawayo on Thursday which was attended by the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry officials, adding that illegal mining was retrogressive in terms of environmental sustainability.
The congress was held under the theme Family Farming and the Food Security Nexus, emphasising that family farming is the backbone of food security in this country.
ZFU secretary-general Paul Zakariya said mining activities are disrupting agricultural activities, posing a huge threat on food security.
“So there are gullies that are forming all over the country, and mining activities that are taking place. Some of them are actually disrupting agricultural activities, and this is a threat to food security in the long run,” he said.
“We are seeing siltation of rivers because the top soils have been dug up, and when the rains fall, all the top soil erodes. In fact, it goes to fill up our rivers, and our rivers get silted.”
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He added: “We need to control some of these things, bring some sanity in the sphere of mining, so that our mining is formalised, and our mining is done with a map providing the environmental clearances, or those certificates that they give to say, ‘yes, these operations are, indeed, guided by environmental concerns and, therefore, they fit to be outfits that will help our people’.”
Zakariya challenged the mining sector to be organised because without doing so, the country will be affected.
“There has to be orderliness in terms of mining so that mining and agriculture co-exist. At the moment, there is a free reign, and there is serious land degradation. If not attended to, give it a few years, three to five years, Zimbabwe will not be the same again,” he said.
Zakariya said the two sectors need to come together as mountains and rivers are disappearing, which become a problem to farmers depending on them.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development deputy minister Vangelis Peter Haritatos testified the importance of family farming, reaffirming his commitment to empowering family farms aiming at establishing a sustainable food system in Zimbabwe.
“We understand that food security is not just an agricultural challenge, but a multidimensional issue involving economics, nutrition and community resilience,” he said.
“The nexus between family farming and food security is evident when we support smallholder farms. We ensure the availability of diverse and nutritious food, enhance access to markets, and foster sustainable agricultural practices.
“Family farms are not only a means of livelihood for millions of Zimbabweans. They are the backbone of our nation’s food security, employing an army of family farmers who cultivate our lands.”