Source: Govt to declare State of Disaster on rivers over illegal mining – herald
Fungai Lupande-Mashonaland Central Bureau
THE Government is set to declare a State of Disaster on some of Zimbabwe’s major rivers as illegal alluvial mining, deforestation and environmental degradation severely threaten water security and agricultural production.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka made the announcement during a wheat production interface with farmers in Glendale, Mazowe, last week, warning that the country’s key water sources were under unprecedented strain.
The planned declaration would allow the Government to mobilise emergency resources and establish specialised rehabilitation teams to restore damaged rivers and stop further environmental destruction.
“The President will declare a State of Disaster on damaged rivers, including Mazowe and Murove rivers. This will allow us to establish teams to rehabilitate the rivers and stop further destruction,” he said.
Under a State of Disaster, the authorities can accelerate environmental restoration programmes, deploy law-enforcement agencies, coordinate emergency interventions and channel additional funding towards rehabilitation works such as dredging, reforestation and riverbank stabilisation. In addition, the Government is drafting new regulations under the Civil Protection Act to strengthen environmental protection measures and tighten penalties for offenders.
Under the proposed laws, individuals and syndicates involved in illegal riverbed mining would face harsher and deterrent punishment.
“The second legislation will ensure perpetrators are held accountable and rivers are reclaimed. If they cannot pay for rehabilitation, their equipment will be confiscated by Government,” he said.
He urged communities to stop engaging in riverbed mining and deforestation, and to report offenders through local Joint Operations Command (JOC) structures.
“Communities need to report cases of alluvial mining first to the local JOC and up to the national JOC,” he said.
Reporting such activities is considered critical because illegal mining operations are often carried out in remote areas where the authorities may not have a permanent presence.
The Government believes stronger community involvement will improve monitoring and help curb environmental destruction before irreversible damage occurs.
Minister Masuka said rampant riverbed mining, deforestation and siltation are degrading major water bodies, with some dams now holding critically low water levels.
Mazowe Dam, a key water source for irrigation, is currently at just 14,2 percent capacity, raising concern over the viability of the winter wheat programme, particularly in Mashonaland Central province.
A series of undercover surveillance operations in mining areas recently exposed widespread destruction of river systems.
“The footage is heartbreaking,” said Dr Masuka.
“Drone footage secretly captured in mining areas exposed widespread destruction.
“Communities and illegal miners are destroying our rivers through alluvial mining and deforestation.”
Alluvial mining involves the extraction of minerals from riverbeds and riverbanks using methods that disturb natural water flows and remove large amounts of soil and vegetation.
The process causes heavy siltation as loosened soil is washed into rivers and dams, reducing water storage capacity and affecting water quality.
Environmental experts warn that the destruction of riverbanks and surrounding vegetation also accelerates soil erosion, increases the risk of flooding and destroys aquatic ecosystems.
In farming areas, silted dams reduce the amount of water available for irrigation, threatening agricultural productivity and food security.
Mazowe Dam, Dr Masuka added, was among the worst affected water bodies due to three major challenges — a structural crack causing water leakages, extensive siltation and severe destruction of the upstream catchment area through mining and deforestation.
Despite receiving good rains three years ago, the dam only managed to reach 39 percent capacity because of reduced water-holding capacity caused by silt accumulation.
The Government has already tightened regulations governing mining activities near rivers through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, the Environmental Management (Control of Alluvial Mining) Amendment Regulations, which prohibits alluvial mining.
It is generally feared that the worsening water situation is already affecting the country’s winter wheat production targets.
Zimbabwe is targeting 125 000 hectares (ha) under wheat this season, with an expected harvest of 662 500 tonnes.
Last year, the country planted 121 000ha and produced 640 000 tonnes of wheat.
Mashonaland Central emerged as the country’s second-largest wheat-producing province last season behind Mashonaland West after planting 27 910ha.
However, the province’s target has been reduced to 25 000ha this year because of declining water levels, although farmer registrations have already reached 25 012ha.
Mazowe district, which planted 16 660ha of wheat last season — the highest in the province — has seen its target cut to 12 000ha due to low dam levels.
Mazowe Dam is currently at 14,2 percent capacity, while Mwenje Dam stands at 18 percent.
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