The Sunday Mail
Dr Sam Spiegel and Wellington Takavarasha
Zimbabwe was among the first of 128 countries to sign the Minamata Convention on Mercury — a historic treaty that addresses global mercury pollution.
Mercury is a serious toxin that affects human health and the environment in profound ways. The treaty devotes an entire article to regulating artisanal and small-scale gold mining, the world’s largest source of mercury pollution, and requires parties to reduce mercury use in the sector.
As the treaty is now in the process of being ratified, it is a good time to consider what steps can be taken by national authorities and donors to make sure that more miners are actively involved in its implementation. Artisanal and small-scale miners’ voices are crucial to ensure that diverse challenges experienced on the ground in mining communities are taken into account.
Currently, 1,5 million people in Zimbabwe depend on artisanal and small-scale mining.
Despite that big number, the Mines and Minerals Act does not capture many of the important realities of riverbed gold panning and primary ore gold mining on the ground.
Most mining communities cannot afford to pay current mining licensing fees, and others struggle with environmental requirements, where environmental impact assessment reports sometimes cost more than US$7 000.
Further, reducing or eliminating mercury use can require capital investment and training than costs more than miners can currently afford.
However, it is possible to come up with solutions in the face of the challenges.
Between 2005 and 2007, Zimbabwe was a pilot country for an international project that demonstrated low-cost methods could be used to reduce mercury use and exposure.
Contrary to the misconception in some media reports that the Minamata Convention bans mercury use, the treaty allows countries to develop action plans to “reduce” mercury use and only “where feasible, eliminate” mercury use.
But changing practices requires more than new technology — it requires policies that support long-term thinking, trust, consensus-building and innovative approaches.
We must think creatively about priorities for changing policy approaches and promoting local participation in driving forward changes.
It is especially timely to think about making more changes to the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill to explicitly address regulatory provisions for the unique characteristics of artisanal and small-scale mining, and then by developing practical implementation steps.
Such legal and regulatory reforms have precedent: in the 1990s, Zimbabwe had various systems for regulating both riverbed gold panning and primary ore gold mining, including measures to protect riverbanks and minimise mercury use.
In Insiza District, for example, a number of technical training campaigns were launched with panners’ associations to support compliance.
Unfortunately, these programmes do not exist now, but could be revived as part of a formalisation and regularisation initiative.
Further, already the Environmental Management Agency will be initiating a review of the EIA system in 2016, which could lead to needed reforms.
The Minamata Convention creates a perfect opportunity to develop a robust National Action Plan that moves forward with reforms, increases awareness of environmental and health risks, makes transitions to cleaner technologies easier, and makes regulations more user-focused.
Having bottom-up consultations with mining communities will be vital to the success of this plan.
To raise awareness and begin consultation processes for the National Action Plan, on December 16, a workshop entitled “Visualising Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: Environmental Strategies for the Future” was held.
Artisanal and small-scale miners, Government officials and other stakeholders shared ideas, challenges and reflections on priorities.
The workshop was facilitated by the Zimbabwe Environment and Mining Institute in conjunction with EMA, and supported by the University of Edinburg’s Centre of African Studies. This event is hopefully the first of many.
Dr Sam Spiegel is a lecturer and director of research at the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Wellington Takavarasha is the director of the Zimbabwe Environment and Mining Institute
