The Sunday Mail
Midlands Correspondent
ILLEGAL artisanal miners have invaded Loreto High School grounds in Silobela triggering an outcry from responsible authorities.
Midlands province mining administrator Mr Tariro Ndlovu revealed this development, saying relevant authorities are looking into the matter.
Mr Ndlovu was speaking during a provincial mining indaba co-hosted by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) in Gweru recently.
“Illegal artisanal mining by makorokoza has become a menace in the province and of late Loreto High was invaded, leaving a trail of destruction on the school infrastructure.
“We are looking into the matter and joint operations have been instituted,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said another school in the province, Globe and Phoenix primary, is also facing potential damage due to underground tunnels created by makorokoza.
He added that the city of Kwekwe and surrounding areas are prone to infrastructure damage due to illegal mining activities.
Anglican Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Ignatious Makumbe, of the Central Zimbabwe Diocese, called for more efforts to be directed to improving mineral resource governance.
“We have enough minerals to cater for the welfare of all Midlands dwellers but our challenge lies with resource governance. It is incumbent upon rural authorities to mobilise funds from mining levies and channel them to development projects.
Communities living along the Great Dyke must benefit from their rich mineral resource base. A culture of transparency and accountability should be cultivated among mining companies, local authorities and host communities.”
