The government has banned riverbed mining many times, but the problem has persisted. Riverbed mining has left a trail of destruction in rivers, wildlife and communities.
In a bid to curtail the catastrophe, authorities issued these directives several times, including in August this year.
But cartels scooping for gold along river banks have defied them.
Organisations such as the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) recently reminded stakeholders that the government, in September 2020 also banned the practice.
It was a commendable policy move meant to stem the tide of environmental degradation while promoting responsible mining.
Exactly four years ago, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association underscored that riverbed mining remained unchecked despite the government issuing Statutory Instrument (SI) 92 of 2014 restricting alluvial mining.
Ironically, in 2020, the government licensed 11 firms in partnership with the state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to extract gold in rivers.
Statutory Instruments, by nature, Zela contended at that time, are mere policy pronouncements lacking legal force.
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Following the most recent ban, CNRG argued that the directive lacked "legal teeth" to curtail the widespread catastrophe that has also been a breeding ground for violence as cartels duel to control lucrative mining hotspots.
“This will be the second time the cabinet has made this pronouncement, having previously prohibited this environmentally harmful practice in October 2020. This prompts a critical reflection of a recurring directive without adequate statutory backing,” the civic organisation noted on its website.
“As riverbed mining once again goes underwater, the Centre for Natural Resource Governance warns of the inadequacy of mere pronouncements of cabinet decisions and government directives without statutory backing.
“These directives lack the necessary teeth to prevent environmental degradation and ensure responsible mining practices.”
This begs the question: beyond hollow rhetoric, what must authorities do to curtail riverbed mining, which has triggered pollution of aquatic bodies and disrupted wildlife ecosystems? In simple terms, the government should strengthen its ineffective directives by amending the laws that allow mining in protected areas, such as the Mines and Minerals Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act.
It is not an exaggeration to state that some mining entities have been granted mining concessions in protected areas, including riverbeds. There is also a general perception that individuals conducting riverbed mining and foreign firms extracting minerals in national parks are protected by the political elite.
That must not be the case.
Zimbabwe's government must strengthen its laws if the fight against riverbed mining is to be won.
Hollow policy pronouncements will not save the environment from wanton destruction.
