By Sydney Kawadza Mash West Bureau Chief
Government has launched the Environmental Management Plan and checklist for small-scale miners that seeks to regularise their operations while encouraging the rehabilitation of areas affected by mining activities.
The plan and checklist launched at Kwayedza Primary School in Patchway, Sanyati District in Mashonaland West is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process meant to ensure the balance between economic, socio-cultural and environmental considerations of mining activities.
Officially launching the plan on Thursday last week, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira said sustainable development sought social and economic viability that does not damage the environment while upholding neighbouring communities.
\u201cThe small-scale mining sector has always had two sides like a coin; on one hand it is a significant contributor to national gold production in the country while on the other, it negatively impacts on the environment.
\u201cIt is this double sidedness that we now want to do away with so that small-scale miners make their contribution to the nation in line with principles of sustainable development,\u201d she said.
Environmental problems associated with artisanal and small-scale miners include mercury and cyanide pollution, acid mine drainage, river siltation, erosion and deforestation, land scape destruction and cultural damage.
Government, through the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, seeks to create a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030 and beyond.
\u201cThe contribution by small-scale mining sector in achieving the national aspiration cannot be ignored. The sector thus requires the assistance it deserves from Government so that they comply with relevant statutes at the same time contributing to the economy,\u201d Minister Mupfumira said.
She said the generic and simplified plan was crafted to improve compliance with legislation and making mining operations environmentally friendly.
The management plan and checklist, the minister said were also in response to outcries that the EIA processes were also expensive and complex for the artisanal miners.
This resulted in most artisanal and small-scale miners operating outside the law with EIA certificates with lack of EMPs leading to environmental degradation and improper handling of hazardous chemicals.
The EIA processes also required small-scale miners to hire consultants to prepare reports for fees of US$3 000 to US$6 000 which discouraged them from complying with environmental legislation.
However, the plan will reduce the overall cost to $253,58 payable to the Environmental Management Agency.
Minister Mupfumira, however, said the process would be coupled with strict monitoring by EMA, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, rural district councils and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
\u201cThe advantages of the EMP are that; it is less costly to the small-scale miners, simple and non-voluminous, it is an educational tool to the miners and makes self-monitoring easy,\u201d she said.
In his address, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura said the plan was a big step in reducing environmental risks associated with artisanal mining.
Deputy Minister Kambamura
He said the mining sector contributed more than 13 percent to Zimbabwe\u2019s GDP, earning over 60 percent of the country\u2019s foreign currency while it is also a major contributor to infrastructure development.
\u201cIt is in line with this Vision 2030 that we have challenged the mining sector to contribute $12 billion to the economy by 2023 (and) to achieve that target of sustainable growth all our miners should comply with the Environmental Management Act and all other legislations,\u201d he said.
Artisanal miners have contributed significantly to Zimbabwe\u2019s gold output which rose to a record 33,3 tonnes in 2018, surpassing the 27 tonnes produced in 1999.
Artisanal miners contributed at least 22 tonnes of the total recorded last year.
The increase has been attributed to measures taken by Government, including curbing leakages.
Government has also introduced a number of programmes to promote gold mining, especially for artisanal miners, who have delivered the largest chunk of the mineral.
In 2017, the country produced 24 tonnes of gold. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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