Source: President declares rivers state of disaster – herald
Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster for at least 17 rivers following years of degradation linked to mining activities.
The declaration, formalised in a Statutory Instrument published yesterday, will allow Government to marshal resources and hire multiple contractors to rehabilitate the riverine ecosystems.
The regulations, known as Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation) Notice, 2026, were published in a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government Gazette.
“Now therefore, His Excellency the President, in terms of section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act [Chapter 10:06], hereby declares as follows— Title 1. This notice may be cited as the Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation) Notice, 20263 … As a result of the need to properly rehabilitate riverine ecosystems throughout Zimbabwe that have been adversely affected by legal and illegal alluvial mining activities, a state of disaster exists throughout Zimbabwe with effect from the promulgation of this declaration,” reads the notice.
The identified rivers include Mazowe and Murowodzi Rivers in Mashonaland Central; Mazowe and Save Rivers in Mashonaland East provinces; Angwa, Sanyati, Munyati and Mupfure Rivers in Mashonaland West Province.
Other rivers include Umzingwane and Insiza Rivers in Matabeleland South Province; Manzimudaka, Mutebekwi, Sanyati, and Mtshingwe Rivers in Midlands Province; Mutare, Haroni and Nyamukwarara Rivers in Manicaland Province.
“And whereas other areas of focus are in the process of being identified and mapped by the Environmental Management Agency in addition to the rivers mentioned in the foregoing paragraph,” reads the regulations.
In the preamble of the regulations, President Mnangagwa noted how rivers are complex and fragile ecosystems, easily damaged but slow to recover naturally, requiring effective rehabilitation through a multidisciplinary approach.
He said Government realised the need for a comprehensive framework that seeks to support and accelerate the natural recovery of rivers significantly degraded by past riverbed and alluvial gold mining.
The President noted that there was need for a river rehabilitation framework to promote environmental sustainability, for long-term ecological restoration, ensuring that communities are not negatively affected in the process.
“Whereas, Government has resolved that the river rehabilitation framework shall be guided by the following principles— (a) land degradation neutrality: riverine ecosystems rehabilitation should focus on improving overall ecosystem integrity and aquatic biodiversity; (b) inclusivity: Engage with the interests and motivations of different stakeholder groups as early as possible; (c) ecosystems approach: understand the connections between natural processes upstream and downstream: considering riparian areas, floodplains and the wider catchment and take it as a unit; (d) root cause analysis,” reads the regulations.
The regulations establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation and Agency that will supervise the rehabilitation of the rivers and will be jointly chaired by the Minister responsible for Environment and the Minister responsible for Water Resources.
Some of the functions of the Inter Ministerial Committee are to call for bids for riverine rehabilitation contracts, approve riverine rehabilitation contracts, oversee the due implementation of approved riverine rehabilitation contracts, and process any grievance lodged with it in writing.
Other ministers in the Committee include the Minister responsible for Mining, the Minister responsible for Home Affairs, the Minister responsible for Local Government, and any other Minister, or the representative of any other entity, whose representation is deemed vital by the joint Chairpersons.
The regulations stipulate that any minerals recovered by an approved contractor shall be reported to the ministry responsible for mines within seven days of recovery, and the ministry may, where necessary, cause an inspection to verify the quantity and value of such minerals for royalty purposes.
“An approved contractor that recovers minerals during rehabilitation activities in terms of this declaration shall— (a) be entitled to retain and dispose of such minerals as the lawful owner thereof; (b) subject to paragraph (c), not be required to obtain a mining title, licence, or permit under the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] other than a mineral recovery permit issued in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Third Schedule in respect of any minerals encountered in the course of rehabilitation; and (c) pay royalty to the State on the value of any minerals so recovered at the rate prescribed in terms of the Mines and Minerals Act,” reads the regulations.
The regulations are expected to go a long way in rehabilitating rivers so that they continue to provide meaningful services to their communities.
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