Zimbabwe has established a government task force to tackle illegal mining, which authorities say is contributing to environmental damage, infrastructure destruction and public health problems.
The decision followed a report presented in late July on illegal mining in Bindura, a mining town in Mashonaland Central province in northern Zimbabwe.
The report identified damage to roads and railways, land designated for public facilities including hospitals, schools and residential areas, as well as pollution of the Mazowe River, which supplies water to farms in the area.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the expansion of illegal mining in Bindura district had damaged infrastructure and the environment and affected communities.
The reported health effects included silicosis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis, as well as increased drug use, according to the report.
Information Minister Zhemu Soda said the task force would coordinate with government agencies to ensure that laws governing mining permits, environmental protection and public health standards were implemented and strengthened.
The move is part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 development strategy, launched in 2017, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy.
Mining is central to the government’s economic plans, with authorities seeking to increase investment in the sector and develop local processing and refining capacity.
Zimbabwe has sought investment from foreign companies to expand mineral production and processing, although the growing role of large mining companies has raised concerns about the impact on small-scale miners, particularly those involved in lithium mining.
Small-scale miners face challenges including limited access to financing and infrastructure, according to the report.
Environmental damage from mining has also become a growing concern.
The government acknowledged in June that mining activities had polluted as many as 17 rivers across Zimbabwe, damaging ecosystems and biodiversity, according to the report.
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), a Zimbabwean environmental and governance advocacy group, has called for transparent measures to rehabilitate polluted rivers and prevent further environmental damage.
The group has also warned that efforts to address pollution should not create new opportunities for mining exploitation.
Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
Omar Victor Diop (Senegal)
Most Famous Photo: Images from his series “Project Diaspora” or “Portrait Session,” which re-imagine historical portraits of notable Africans and Black figures in Western art history.
Short Bio: Born in 1980, Omar Victor Diop is a Senegalese photographer known for his vibrant, meticulously staged portraits that blend African aesthetics with contemporary fashion and historical references. His work often reclaims and reinterprets narratives of Black representation, challenging conventional perspectives.
Undergrad Split
Shongololo – millipede [sh-ong-o-loh-loh] A term used to describe a large brown millipede. It is derived from the isiZulu word ‘ukushonga’, meaning to roll up.
Versace-Cat
Fun South African Fact: While the country only covers 1% of the Earth’s land surface, South Africa boasts 10% of the world’s bird, fish and plant species as well as 6% of its mammal and reptile species!