GOVERNMENT has banned all alluvial mining activities across Zimbabwe with immediate effect, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking during post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Jenfan Muswere said the mining activities had destroyed rivers.
“Cabinet had noted that ever since its commencement in 2011 across the country’s rural provinces, large-scale and mechanical alluvial mining or riverbed mining has resulted in water pollution, siltation, degradation of river channels and disruption of riverine ecosystems,” he said.
Several concerns have been raised over the degradation of river channels in the country as gold panners continue with their operations.
Even other historical scenic sites such as Boterekwa Escarpment in Shurugwi, the Midlands province, have not been spared, this time by mechanised gold miners.
Muswere also announced that 89,2% Zimbabweans requiring food aid received food assistance in the first three months of the food first cycle of the food distribution programme, with only 10,8% not receiving the food assistance.
Muswere said government had moved to the second cycle of the food distribution programme.
“The nation is informed that out of the targeted 6 140 924 beneficiaries, 5 479 704,51 received food assistance in the first three months, being May to July 2024 food distributions blitz and this translated to 89.2%.
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“The Grain Movement Command Centre has worked tirelessly to ensure that food insecure people received the requisite assistance.”
The second cycle of the blitz grain distribution, where a total of 6 215 775 beneficiaries are set to be receive assistance, started on August 6 and will end on October 31 this year.
Muswere said the launch of the e-Passport Biometric Enrolment Centre in South Africa showed government’s willingness to listen to the diaspora community.
“The Consulate Building in Johannesburg was officially handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on July 25, 2024. The handover marks a significant milestone of the second republic’s drive to bring government services close to the people under a decent environment.
“The handover further demonstrates that government is mindful of the needs of the diaspora community who equally deserve the convenience that is enjoyed by those in Zimbabwe,” he said.
The e-Passport Biometric Enrolment Centre was launched this year.
