The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has raised alarm over the low number of environmental cases recorded and prosecuted in Matabeleland North Province, warning that weak enforcement risks emboldening offenders.
Speaking at a multi-stakeholder engagement meeting organised by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Hwange-based public prosecutor Pride Mharadza said fewer than 15 EMA-related cases were recorded in the province in 2025, describing the situation as “deeply disappointing.”
“In Hwange, we only received one case last year involving the transport of hazardous substances without a permit,” Mharadza said. The accused, who had transported mercury, was convicted and fined US$500, with four months’ imprisonment suspended for five years.
Mharadza said Victoria Falls recorded no EMA cases in 2025, calling it “worrying that a whole station did not receive a single case.”
Binga recorded two cases involving cyanide, one resulting in six months’ imprisonment and forfeiture of the chemical, while the other could not proceed to court due to the absence of a forensic report.
In Inyathi, a single case involved implementing a project without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate, resulting in a US$200 fine. Nkayi recorded one case of prohibited alluvial mining, leading to suspended sentences for 19 accused persons.
Meanwhile, Tsholotsho and Lupane reported no EMA cases during the year.
Mharadza said delays in forensic reports, limited EMA representation, and weak collaboration between police and prosecutors were major obstacles to successful prosecution.
“The overall picture points to weak environmental law enforcement rather than an absence of environmental crimes,” she said. “Half the stations did not receive any EMA cases. Some prosecutors even said they do not know how to handle EMA cases because they are not receiving them.”
Mharadza urged law enforcement and prosecutors to take action, saying that successful prosecutions would “send a message to society” and strengthen environmental protection across the province.
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today