HWANGE residents have challenged an application made by a Chinese firm, Sunny Yi Feng (Private) Limited, for an exclusive prospecting order in the district.
According to General Notice 82 of 2025, Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05], the company applied for Exclusive Prospecting Order No 04 of 2021, Matabeleland North mining district, particularly in Hwange and Victoria Falls.
“A Government Gazette says ‘the applicant intends to prospect for coal within the area which has been reserved against prospecting pending determination of this application’,” Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT) co-ordinator Fidelis Chima said.
“The targeted prospecting area covers 16 000 hectares, with a boundary that is 7,8km from the Sinamatella Camp, a tourist site. The government in 2020 banned mining activities in national parks and sadly, we are getting reports that Sunny Yi Feng seeks to do coal mining at Sinamatella camp in the national park.”
He said the GWRT remained opposed to such a move.
“Mining activities near Sinamatela will disturb wildlife corridors and increase human-wildlife conflict,” Chima said.
GWRT in December last year petitioned Parliament to investigate pollution caused by coal mining companies in Hwange.
The residents said their health was at risk because of the pollution.
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Parliament has since tasked the portfolio committee responsible to probe the matter.
In the petition, the residents demanded a review of the Pneumoconiosis Act (Chapter 15:08) to guarantee their right against air and noise pollution.
The residents said they were not enjoying protection from the Act as they were being denied regular medical check-ups to determine the impact of coal dust on their health, particularly the heart and kidneys.
GWRT argued that section 73 of the Constitution guarantees the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being and protection of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
