THE Government has ordered all the eight companies it had contracted to
rehabilitate Mazowe River banks in Bindura, Mazowe and Shamva district to account
for every piece of mineral they will come through as they cover up large pools and
pits they had dug up when they diverted from their remit into mining.
A fortnight ago, the eight, Muragent Construction, Evone, Kazkhan, Initiative
Constructions, SR Enterprises, Perpetual, Extreme Impact and Baimei Pvt Ltd were
all but ordered to stop their activities after breaching terms of their contracts.
Allegations were that the companies had diverted from doing their prescribed work in
accordance with the MoUs they signed with the Government, and instead ventured
into full-scale mining.
In a report compiled by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution,
Senator Monicah Mavhunga, seen by Nehanda Guardian, she said:
“From what we noted, there were no significant signs of river rehabilitation at all sites
these companies were operating but, the main at most sites was alluvial gold mining
as evidenced by heavy mining equipment found there.”
She further noted that while the companies were into mining, they used some
dangerous substances and had no proper and secure storage for the hazardous
substances.
The companies would let the dangerous substances flow into Mazowe River, which
is the main source of water for the three districts – Bindura, Mazowe and Shamva –
rendering the water turbid and not fit for human, livestock or wildlife.
At Simona Farm in Bindura, Minister Mavhunga said Muragent had gone to
extremes, diverting the river’s flow by constructing a makeshift dam wall and bridge.
She complained that the companies were also abstracting water for their mining
purposes without a ZINWA permit.
The minister’s report further noted that while the companies were engaging in mining
activities, they destroyed a lot of grown indigenous trees on the banks and riverbeds.
“It was also noted that the removed trees were used to support wash plants or jig
separators. All sites had a jig operator or a wash plant in place,” she added.
Minister Mavhunga said water to the three districts is now turbid and becoming a
cause for concern to local authorities, who are forcing ratepayers to pay their bills in
time in order for them to buy treatment chemicals.
The Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndhlovu,
who directed the companies to stop said they cannot leave without rehabilitating the
sites they had damaged.
He ordered that they fill up pools and ponds they had dug while engaging in their
illegal activities as well as plant trees in the same areas.
While filling up the pools and pits they had dug, Minister Ndhlovu said:
“Records of any minerals realised in the process should be properly maintained and
declared to the State.”
The Minister’s report highlighted that at most of these sites, there were some
Chinese nationals.
