The Government is preparing amendments to environmental laws that would impose tougher penalties on people who damage mountains through mining, Environment Minister Dr Eveline Ndlovu has told the Senate.
Ndlovu was responding to concerns over mining activities in Matabeleland and the destruction of mountains regarded as sacred and historically important by local communities.
Senator Kucaca Phulu raised the issue during a Senate sitting, saying mining for granite and other minerals was damaging mountains in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and what he described as Matabeleland East.
“My question is directed to the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife. Our mountains in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland East are being destroyed by mining activities. They are looking for granite and other resources needed there. What programmes are in place to protect our mountains, especially the sacred ones with history and great importance to our community? What programmes are in place to protect those mountains so that when people wake up they find them still there?” Phulu asked.
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Ndlovu said mountains formed part of the country’s natural heritage and that the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) assessed the potential environmental impact of mining projects before they were approved.
“Know that mountains are one of the things that we found here on Mother Earth and we are supposed to keep them as a creation of God. Yes, we also have to protect these mountains. We have organisations under us that were formed in this House so that they look after the natural existence of these mountains.”
“The economy sometimes makes us go and look for wealth there but when we apply to carry out mining activities, the Government through EMA, looks at whether you are going to destroy the mountains or you are going to make them dirty. EMA does an assessment and also engages the community, the villagers so that they can hear what the villagers are saying about this mountain,” she said.
Ndlovu said mining could proceed where EMA, communities and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development were satisfied that the activities would not cause unacceptable environmental damage.
“When you see that happening, it means that the villagers and EMA are in agreement with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development that people can start mining there but as the Government, if we see you destroying the mountain, we come in and enforce the law on you,” she said.
She said the Government was seeking to strengthen environmental legislation because existing penalties were not strong enough to deter environmental damage.
“We want the EMA laws to come back to this House and be amended because we have already done something to punish people who have destroyed mountains and people are just coming across that. We respect those mountains a lot.”
Phulu, however, said some mountains had already been destroyed without communities being adequately informed. He asked what villagers could do when their concerns were not addressed by traditional leaders or EMA.
“I know and I can give you an example. Some mountains have been destroyed and villagers do not know. What should they do and who should they go to because even if they go to chiefs and to EMA, they do not get help. Can we not have another law that will be enforced? When can we look forward to seeing that Bill coming through?” Phulu asked.
Ndlovu asked Phulu to provide details of the affected mountains so that her ministry could investigate.
“I would be very grateful if Senator Phulu could give me the list of mountains that have been destroyed. I will look at it and see why EMA, the law, the chief and the villagers agreed to this and I will ensure that people are punished for destroying our environment,” she said.
She said proposed amendments to environmental legislation had already been introduced in the National Assembly.
“A law is coming. It has not been debated but it is in the National Assembly. I brought it because I saw that the law was not very strong on that issue. We included amendments so that those people who destroy our environment should be severely punished, so that whenever they see that the punishment is severe, they will be afraid to destroy the environment. That law is coming.”
Ndlovu also called on lawyers in Parliament to scrutinise the proposed legislation to ensure that it was strong enough to prevent environmental destruction.
“I am pleading with you, all the lawyers who are here, to also look into this law so that it can be strong and not have loopholes, so that people do not destroy our environment and mountains.”
Senator Sisasenkosi Ndebele raised a separate concern about mining waste being dumped near roads and the possible impact of the approaching rainy season.
“My supplementary question is, since those mountains are being destroyed, is the soil dumped beside the road not going to disturb the roads since the rainy season is coming?” Ndebele said.
Ndlovu asked Ndebele to provide details of the affected areas so EMA officials could assess the situation before the rains.
“I will be grateful if the Hon. Senator could tell me where exactly those soils are so that tomorrow I can send people from EMA to go and check to see if our roads are not blocked because the rainy season is just around the corner,” she said.
“I would be happy if the Senator can give me the name of the mountain that is being affected because Senators are the eyes of the Government, you can look into these things. That is why the President enabled us to be here so that we can act and work and make sure that things go accordingly.”
Ndlovu said the Government would act on information provided by legislators and send officials to affected areas.
“We are going to wait for that list so that I can send people to the ground in order for us to fix this so that when the rainy season comes, the roads safe,” said Ndlovu.
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