Chinese Mining Companies Destroy Mazowe River

By Staff Reporter

Unwarranted alluvial mining by Chinese companies has left human, aqua, wild life and domestic animals at the brink of disaster in Rushinga District.

According to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) the Chinese have been operating illegally along Mazowe river for a while.


A visit by Bustop Tv to Mazowe bridge centre ward 18 showed land degradation as a result of these illegal mining activities.

The Chinese alluvial miners are also believed to be operating without required licences from both Rushinga District Council and Environmental Management Authority.

Reports from individuals in Rushinga side corroborate that they connive with Uzumba Marambapfungwe village heads to operate along the river.

Trevor Chikumbu,Environmental Management Authority Officer for Rushinga District confirmed damage was done to the river bed. The issuing of the Environmental Order by the courts yielded a favourable result of rehabilitation of part of the degraded land.

He also added that to date, an area of approximately 13,8 hectares has been rehabilitated combining Uzumba and Rushinga river banks along Mazowe River but the damage is still immense.

Secondly the devastating effects again of the Chinese activities were discovered along Mazowe river in ward 19 two kilometres from Chiromba Primary school and stretches to Marymount ward 4.

This news reporter found unmitigated obliteration of the river bed and deep canyons and chasms. A reliable source said the Chinese are said to be mining huge amounts of gold at their various operation cites.

Rushinga District Council Chief Executive Officer, Kudakwashe Jonasi said the Chinese businesses do not pay a dime to Rushinga District Council. He added that numerous invoices had been sent to these Chinese companies but they still declined to settle their arrears since last year. Sometimes the district council is unaware of their mining activities.

RDC chairperson Spencer Chiwarange said, “I have never received any payment or profit remitted to the district having to do with developmental projects from the minerals exploited since their operation in the district.”

Member of Parliament for Rushinga District, Tendai Nyabani also expressed concern over the undermining of environmental and ecological life by the Chinese companies.

Nyabani said the district usually succumbs to perennial droughts and a great number of people draw water from Mazowe river for their livestock and domestic purposes and the Chinese mining operations had become a serious threat.

Efforts to interview the Chinese firm were in vain as they refused to avail contacts of their communications officers.