22 June 2021

Story by Happious Chingwaya (Shurugwi Community Development Trust)

EMA has issued Musasa mining syndicate in Shurugwi with a seven -day ultimatum to rehabilitate the environment after the company started operating without the mandatory environmental impact assessment certificate.

The mine was carrying out illegal alluvial gold mining near Mutevekwi River located just outside the mining town along Shurugwi-Zvishavane highway.

The miner was issued with a level 14 ticket and ordered to rehabilitate the area within seven days.

Over the years, both illegal and legal mining activities along Mutevekwi River have resulted in the blocking of the river with farmers downstream failing to draw water for irrigation purposes.

Mining activities in the mining town have left severe environmental degradation with chemicals used by miners such as mercury and cyanide polluting water bodies.

Some villagers have been complaining about losing their domestic animals to poisonous substances.

Farmer-miner conflicts have also been on the increase in Shurugwi with stakeholders calling for laws that harmonise the two.