City Of Bulawayo Raises Alarm Over Illegal Mining In Water Catchments
The City of Bulawayo has raised concerns over ongoing illegal gold mining along riverbeds in the Umzingwane catchment area.
The local authority says the mining is affecting rainwater inflows into the city’s key supply dams, including Umzingwane, Inyankuni, Upper and Lower Ncema, and Mtshabezi.
Council minutes reveal that the Umzingwane River, which feeds the Umzingwane Dam, has been particularly impacted, with mining activities disturbing both the river’s course and its bed. The minutes read:
“There was a lot of mining activity along the riverbed. A lot of illegal mining activities were observed.
“There was a mine situated 3km away from the Criterion Water Works. The area is part of the Umzingwane River course.
“A trench had been dug in the middle of the river by earth-moving equipment. The Umzingwane River and Mtshabezi River are very close to each other separated by a mountain.
“The distance is less than 10km; Umzingwane River is at 35% capacity, while Mtshabezi River is 100% full.”
The council noted that Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (No. 3), which bans alluvial mining and prospecting in or along any river or public stream in Zimbabwe, is not being enforced.
It added that municipal police and rangers lack the capacity to control these activities, highlighting the need to engage the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to address the issue. –
_Southern Eye_
