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Zimbabwe’s mining industry continues to play a critical role in the economy, providing jobs and generating revenue across multiple commodities. However, Mining Zimbabwe can report that the rapid expansion of mining has left a significant environmental footprint.
By Ryan Chigoche
Open pits, deforestation, silted rivers, and contamination from heavy metals and chemicals have been reported across the sector, raising concerns about ecosystem degradation and community health.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA), mandated to regulate and monitor environmental compliance in mining, has faced challenges keeping up with the scale and diversity of mining operations. Limited technical capacity and resources have resulted in gaps in monitoring and enforcement, leaving parts of the sector vulnerable to unsustainable practices.
Rather than leaving environmental stewardship solely to EMA, Upenyu Makoni, Communications Officer for planetGOLD, told Mining Zimbabwe that a collective approach is needed.
“Effective environmental stewardship requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including miners, civil society, and communities, as well as government agencies. The mandate of EMA is critical, and its role as the regulator must be strengthened and supported. Key to this is fostering even deeper collaborative frameworks between institutions, ensuring that monitoring and enforcement are consistent across the entire mining sector,” she said.
Following this, planetGOLD highlighted that its collaboration with EMA in recent times has been constructive.
EMA officers accompanied planetGOLD teams during site profiling exercises across the country, providing local knowledge and facilitating engagement with mining communities.
The agency has also conducted awareness campaigns to educate miners and simplify compliance processes, helping improve environmental practices across the sector.
The planetGOLD initiative brings together EMA, the Ministries of Mines, Environment, and Health; Fidelity Gold Refinery; the Zimbabwe Miners Federation; miners; and other sector advocates to promote safer, cleaner, and more sustainable mining practices. The initiative benefits communities and workers across the sector while reducing environmental risks.
The project added that continued investment in EMA’s technical and logistical capacity is essential to enable consistent monitoring and enforcement, and that accountability for environmental damage requires participation from all stakeholders.
