By Edward Makuzva
The Environmental Management Agency(EMA) has closed 4 mines in Mashonaland Central province during the week for operating
without Enviromental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The defaulting mines are, Pecho Minerals located in Galiver Farm in Bindura,
Ruvimbo Mining Syndicate located in Mountanview Farm, Red Steel Mining Syndicate in Umfurudzi and Duiker 2and 3 Gold Mining located in Wilowdean Farm.
In a statement, the defaulting projects were issued with fines between level 6 and 7, amounting to $4 800 and $ 9 600 respectively.
The statement added that mining is a prescribed project listed in the First Schedule of the Environmental Management Act CAP 20:27 of 2002.
“All prescribed projects have the potential to cause environmental degradation hence should undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment process before
implementation.
“This is in accordance with section 97 of the Environmental Management Act,
and anyone found in violation of this, is liable to a fine of up to level 14.
“An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process which identifies the environmental impacts of a development project and clearly outlines measures to mitigate the negative impacts caused during project construction, implementation and decommissioning”, reads the statement.
The statement highlighted that the Environmental Management Act defines an Environmental Impact assessment as ‘an
evaluation of a project to determine its impact on the environment and human health and to
set out the required environmental monitoring and management procedures and plans’.
The EIA is thus a tool that enhances sustainable development where environmental, economic and
social pillars are mainstreamed in the project in a balanced manner.
The statement said 4 projects were found to be operating without EIAs, and mining in a manner that harms the environment, causing massive land degradation in the environment.
“It is unfortunate that most of these projects are located in farming areas meaning that the amount of degradation they are causing will render the land unsuitable for farming purposes as well.
“The Agency is urging all those implementing prescribed projects to do so under
an EIA as a way of promoting sustainable development; development which does not harm the environment”, said the statement.
The Agency will remain alert on the ground to stop any such activity, hence
calling all developers to seek for guidance from the Agency before implementing any projects that are likely to cause harm to the environment.
Meanwhile, the cost of rehabilitating, and living in a degraded environment, is more costly than preventing its degradation, hence the need to implement environmental sound projects.
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