Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has called on the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel a license it granted for an exclusive prospection of mining activities in the Hwange National Park in Matabeleland North.

The Mines and Mining Development Ministry has granted an application by Sunny Ye Feng (Pvt) Ltd for a special mining license in the Bumbusi Ruins area of Hwange.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the area Sunny Ye Feng (Pvt) Ltd is targeting is the Sinamatela Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone, a critical habitat for a population of the endangered species, which is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendix 1.

Farawo said the proposed mining project will actually increase the risk of Black Rhinos extinction and negatively affect prospects of the rhino population recovery.

“The proposed mining project poses a significant threat, worsening the degradation of land, a critical concern for ZimParks, which has a mandate to ensure that at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and ecosystems are restored by 2030,” he said.

“While we have made substantial progress in reviving wildlife populations across the nation, the introduction of mining activities in this vital area would undermine ecological conditions essential for wildlife survival and reproduction. This compromise will hinder our ongoing efforts to maintain and restore healthy populations of wildlife.”

Farawo said approving mining in this zone would contradict ZimParks’ conservation mandate and also tarnish Zimbabwe’s reputation regionally and internationally as a world leader in sustainable conservation.

He noted that tourism is a major revenue generator for the country and some of the tourism operations significantly rely on the revenue generated from leased concessions, which would negatively affect the country’s ability to deliver quality experiences for tourists.

“Furthermore, mining activities are known to create air, noise, and land pollution, which detrimentally impact visitor experiences and disrupt wildlife movement, not mentioning the increased cases of poaching,” said Farawo.

“Sinamatela is home to the Bumbusi ruins which hold historical and cultural significance for the Nambyian-speaking communities dating to the 18th century. Traditional leaders from the region visit the area annually to conduct cultural rituals and rain making ceremonies.”

Hwange National Park is home to Africa’s second-largest elephant population and mining may interfere with the flow of groundwater, threatening vital water sources relied upon by our wildlife.

The disruption can worsen existing water shortages, leading to increased mortality rates in species and heightened human-wildlife conflict in surrounding communities.

Farawo said ZimParks will continue to advocate for the safeguarding of critical wildlife habitats and upholding the country’s commitment to conservation for the benefit of all Zimbabweans and future generations.

New Ziana