KADOMA – The Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Eng. Polite Kambamura has said that the Government does not issue mining permits for residential properties and warned that offenders will face the full force of the law.
Speaking on the recent illegal mining activities reported in Harare’s Marlborough suburb, Dr Kambamura said mining operations involving drilling and blasting within residential neighbourhoods are illegal and pose serious environmental and public safety risks.
“Number one, the Ministry of Mines does not issue mining permits in residential areas. That’s not acceptable at all,” he said.
The Minister said the Government has observed individuals conducting mining operations from their homes, using heavy equipment and explosives that are causing environmental degradation in urban communities.
“We’ve noticed that there are people who are actually mining at their homes, drilling and blasting, causing environmental damage in urban areas. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Kambamura called for closer cooperation between government ministries, local authorities, councillors and communities to identify and stop illegal mining activities before they escalate.
“I would like to urge other government departments to work together with the Ministry of Mines to identify those culprits who are doing illegal mining in residential areas,” he said.
He urged councillors and local institutions to promptly notify the Ministry of Mines whenever illegal mining activities are detected so that enforcement action can be taken.
Those found violating the law, he said, will be handed over to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for prosecution.
“Those caught on the wrong side of the law will be handed to the police, and we have laws in place that deal with that,” Kambamura said.
The Minister said addressing illegal mining requires a whole-of-government approach involving the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Local Government.
“We need to work as one government. The Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Local Government must work together so that we bring all those culprits to book,” he said.
Kambamura also dismissed claims by some illegal miners that they had been issued mining permits by the Ministry.
Referring to the recent Marlborough case, he said investigations established that no such permits had been issued.
“We’ve noticed that in Marlborough there were people who were actually mining illegally at their homesteads and they were saying they had been given permits by the Ministry, which we did not do,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that eight suspects were arrested on Tuesday and are assisting police with ongoing investigations.
“We moved onto the ground, and the culprits were arrested yesterday. Today they are assisting the police with further investigations. They’re actually showing the police other homesteads where illegal mining is taking place,” he said.
The arrests form part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal mining in urban areas as authorities seek to protect residential communities, enforce mining regulations and prevent environmental damage.
