GOVERNMENT has been urged to involve communities in the fight against riverbed mining after authorities imposed a ban on the practice.
In August this year, the government announced a ban on alluvial and riverbed mining to curb environmental degradation.
The government first announced the ban in 2020, but the practice has continued unabated over the past years.
Cabinet said deterrent penalties would also be imposed on offenders, including forfeiture of mining equipment
Stakeholders on Tuesday told delegates during the ongoing Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba organised by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association in Bulawayo that riverbed mining would continue despite the ban as there was no community involvement to stop it.
Environmental Management Agency manager Phanuel Mangisi said stopping riverbed mining needed a buy-in from various stakeholders.
“The pronouncement is not new. There are several other statutory instruments that have been made before, but that has never helped to stop riverbed mining,” he said.
“This is a low-hanging fruit which small-scale miners would always want to venture into. There is need for stakeholder participation.”
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Zimbabwe School of Mines lecturer Nomasiko Mpofu said the devastating effects of riverbed mining on the environment
“The ecosystem is being destroyed. We need more community monitors because it is their environment,” Mpofu said.
“Artisanal miners are still using cyanide. There is need to enhance accountability and empower communities.”
Lands, Agriculture Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry representative Tatenda Manganda said alluvial mining was suspended due to serious environmental degradation as well as disputes among farmers and miners.
“It was suspended due to pressure from civic groups, miners are using dangerous chemicals causing danger to livestock and communities. Legislation is being crafted to deal with the mining activity,” he said.
