FROM RISK TO RESILIENCE: THE RACE TO CLEAN UP ZIMBABWE’S ARTISANAL GOLD MINES

By Admire Chitsungo in Chegutu

The glitter of gold has long masked a deadly reality in Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector, where mercury use continues to pose serious risks to human health and the environment.

But efforts to change that narrative are gathering momentum, with PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe taking its mercury awareness campaign directly to mining communities.

Through interactive Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) roadshows held at GZone Mine, Mutapa Gold Resources and Giant Mine, hundreds of miners and community members were equipped with knowledge on the dangers of mercury use, including its impact on water sources, land, ecosystems and human health.

The roadshows brought together experts from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Ministry of Health and Child Care, and Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, who engaged directly with miners on practical ways of making gold production safer and more environmentally responsible.

EMA Chegutu District Environmental Officer Munyaradzi Gandidzanwa warned miners about the long-term environmental consequences of mercury contamination.

“Mercury does not disappear. It enters our rivers, our crops, and eventually our bodies. Protecting the environment is protecting your own future,” he said.

Simbarashe Wachenuka, a Chegutu District Environmental Health Technician from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, highlighted the health risks associated with mercury exposure.

He educated miners on the dangers of inhaling mercury vapour and its potential neurological, kidney and reproductive health effects, while encouraging the adoption of mercury-free gold-processing methods.

Ministry of Mines and Mining Development official Dickson Alisa urged miners to embrace formalisation while prioritising safety.

“The future of ASM is in the formal economy. We must ensure gold is produced safely, responsibly, and without harm” he said.

PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe Project Manager Nyaradzo Mutonhori said the initiative goes beyond raising awareness by providing communities with practical alternatives and opportunities to improve livelihoods.

“The PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe project works together with local communities to reduce the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining while improving the health and lives of local mining communities,” she said.

The project is part of the global PlanetGOLD programme, which is being implemented in 25 countries.

In Zimbabwe, the initiative is targeting 7 500 men and women across 11 districts, with a five-year target of reducing mercury use by 4.85 tonnes.

A key component of the programme is the establishment of eight mercury-free gold-processing demonstration sites in participating districts, providing miners with practical and affordable alternatives to mercury-based processing.

The initiative is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by IMPACT, in coordination with the Ministries responsible for Mines and Environment, Climate and Wildlife Management through EMA.

For miners, however, the roadshow was more than a policy discussion ,it was about protecting livelihoods, health and lives.

Ephisoh Baramasimbe, GZone Mine Plant Manager, welcomed the initiative, saying the knowledge gained would help improve safety at the mine.

“This programme has given miners important knowledge about the dangers of mercury. As plant manager, I will continue educating miners on these dangers, monitor proper use of safety gear and embrace safer methods of gold production,” he said.

Emmanuel Chigwa, SHEQ Manager at Mutapa Gold Resources, said direct engagement with miners had made it easier for them to understand workplace risks.

“Miners have been equipped with valuable information on workplace health and safety. When experts come to us, it is easier to understand the risks and our responsibilities,” he said.

Beyond Chegutu, the intervention reflects a broader push to transform Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector by linking economic empowerment with environmental protection, occupational safety and public health.

With gold mining sustaining thousands of livelihoods across the country, the message was clear: the pursuit of gold should not come at the expense of human health, environmental integrity and the wellbeing of future generations.

As miners are encouraged to move away from mercury-dependent processing and embrace safer technologies, Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector is being offered a new path ,more responsible gold production, healthier communities and a safer future.