RESIDENTS of Gwanda in Matabeleland South province have bemoaned the growing artisanal mining activities that have become a source of danger to the environment after pits left by miners have caused the death of livestock while affecting the town’s expansion drive.
The most affected areas are around the Spitzkop and Bina areas.
In an interview this week, mayor Thulani Moyo alleged that corruption within the Mines and Mining Development ministry as well as neglect of the matter by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) were fuelling the scourge.
“When we create layouts, we circulate to all ministries to show that there is a plan in a certain area. Officials from the Ministry of Mines peg the claims willy-nilly and they never communicate that to council,” he said.
“Council land was gazetted in 1995 and we were given land in 2005 for expansion, but there is a lot of corruption taking place.”
Moyo said the artisanal miners were digging along the roads.
“We have about 2 300 residential stands to be developed and not even 1 000 will be completed due to the nature of the land. All this coming at a time when we are supposed to reduce the housing backlog,” he said.
The mayor also bemoaned the hypocrisy exhibited by legislators who approach the council looking for stands despite failing to represent the people in their own constituencies.
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Moyo said council could not create playgrounds and recreational parks within the area as it is unsafe as mining activities are taking place so close to the town.
He said blasting was taking place under residents’ homes.
“According to mining laws, a mine is supposed to be at least 100 metres from a town. I remember a while back, Operation Garikai houses were cracking due to the blasting underground,” he said.
Matabeleland South EMA provincial manager Decent Ndlovu said reports had been made to the police, adding that the government should ban or control the use of gold detectors.
“Currently, there is no law governing the ownership of detectors and that must be addressed through regulation. People are losing livestock, a key source of livelihood due to these pits,” Ndlovu said.
“I appeal to these people to just register and mine legally. These people must also respect the environment.”
