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Illegal miners invade Rhodes Estate in Zimbabwe
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The Zimbabwean Government has deployed security and environmental agencies to the Rhodes Estate in the Matopos National Park following growing concerns over illegal gold mining activities that are threatening livestock production at one of the country's most renowned pedigree cattle farms.
The Rhodes Estate, a sprawling 4,000-hectare property owned by the Pilossof family, is famous for producing high-quality Brahman and Beefmasters cattle. However, in recent years, the farm has been repeatedly invaded by illegal gold panners, whose indiscriminate digging has caused severe environmental degradation. The illegal miners have dug numerous pits, which have led to the death of many cattle that have fallen into these open trenches.
Mr. Paul Pilossof, head of the farm project, estimated that close to 200 pedigree cattle have died in the past few years due to the hazards created by the illegal miners. The cattle are often caught in the deep pits or suffer from consuming water contaminated by chemicals such as cyanide, which is outlawed in gold extraction. Some of the farm's Brahman bulls have been sold for as much as US$13,000 each, and the losses due to the illegal activities are significant.
The Pilossof family has been grappling with these challenges since 2014 when they entered into an agreement with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to run their cattle business within the Matopos National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their aim was to preserve parts of the park while simultaneously running a commercially viable livestock operation. However, the illegal mining activities have disrupted their efforts, with gold panners continuously encroaching on the land and damaging the farm's infrastructure.
Yesterday, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, visited the farm along with a delegation of key government officials, including representatives from ZimParks, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, the Environment Management Authority (EMA), and the police. The visit was intended to assess the impact of the illegal gold mining activities on the farm's operations.
Minister Ndlovu expressed concern over the scale of the illegal mining activities, which she described as counterproductive to the region's agricultural and livestock industries. She called for stricter enforcement of laws governing mining within the national park. "The illegal mining activities that are taking place at this farm are unacceptable and must stop immediately. We cannot allow this to continue, as it is detrimental to both the environment and the agricultural sector," she said.
Mr. Pilossof shared that despite their efforts to secure the farm, including installing fences to keep the cattle away from the mining areas, the illegal miners have continued to expand their operations, cutting through the fences. "We lose an average of 60 pedigree cattle every year due to snares, stock theft, cattle falling into pits, or dying after drinking contaminated water," he lamented.
Dr. Ndlovu ordered the Ministry of Mines to provide her office with a list of miners who have been granted special permits to mine within the Matopos National Park, in collaboration with ZimParks. "Mining and agriculture can coexist, but only when both are conducted legally and in accordance with the law. We need to identify those who are mining legally and ensure that illegal miners are removed from the area," she said.
Chancellor Chidziva, the acting provincial mining director for Matabeleland South, confirmed that miners must obtain special permits from ZimParks to operate within the national park. "ZimParks is the custodian of the Matopos National Park, and all miners must seek their approval before obtaining a permit from our office," he explained. However, he was unable to provide the exact number of miners currently holding special permits.
Mr. Thembelani Sibanda, ZimParks senior area manager, reiterated that the majority of gold panners operating in the area are doing so illegally, without the necessary special permits. He emphasized that the area was designated for cattle rearing, and only miners with special grants were allowed to work there. "ZimParks acknowledges the growing problem of illegal mining, and we appeal for collaboration from all stakeholders to remove these illegal miners," he said.
The illegal mining activities have caused significant environmental damage, with parts of the Matopos National Park being classified as one of the worst-degraded areas in the province. According to EMA provincial manager Mr. Decent Ndlovu, the area is considered a "hotspot" for illegal mining. "It's disheartening to see all the rehabilitation work done by the farmers over the years being destroyed by illegal mining. This area has supported thousands of cattle, and it's a tragedy to see it all undermined by such activities," he said.
The government's intervention aims to address the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and protect the valuable livestock industry, which plays a critical role in the economy of Matabeleland South. The situation remains dire, and stakeholders are hopeful that a more coordinated and decisive approach will be taken to curb the illegal activities and preserve the integrity of the Matopos National Park.
The Rhodes Estate, a sprawling 4,000-hectare property owned by the Pilossof family, is famous for producing high-quality Brahman and Beefmasters cattle. However, in recent years, the farm has been repeatedly invaded by illegal gold panners, whose indiscriminate digging has caused severe environmental degradation. The illegal miners have dug numerous pits, which have led to the death of many cattle that have fallen into these open trenches.
Mr. Paul Pilossof, head of the farm project, estimated that close to 200 pedigree cattle have died in the past few years due to the hazards created by the illegal miners. The cattle are often caught in the deep pits or suffer from consuming water contaminated by chemicals such as cyanide, which is outlawed in gold extraction. Some of the farm's Brahman bulls have been sold for as much as US$13,000 each, and the losses due to the illegal activities are significant.
The Pilossof family has been grappling with these challenges since 2014 when they entered into an agreement with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to run their cattle business within the Matopos National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their aim was to preserve parts of the park while simultaneously running a commercially viable livestock operation. However, the illegal mining activities have disrupted their efforts, with gold panners continuously encroaching on the land and damaging the farm's infrastructure.
Yesterday, Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu, visited the farm along with a delegation of key government officials, including representatives from ZimParks, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, the Environment Management Authority (EMA), and the police. The visit was intended to assess the impact of the illegal gold mining activities on the farm's operations.
Minister Ndlovu expressed concern over the scale of the illegal mining activities, which she described as counterproductive to the region's agricultural and livestock industries. She called for stricter enforcement of laws governing mining within the national park. "The illegal mining activities that are taking place at this farm are unacceptable and must stop immediately. We cannot allow this to continue, as it is detrimental to both the environment and the agricultural sector," she said.
Dr. Ndlovu ordered the Ministry of Mines to provide her office with a list of miners who have been granted special permits to mine within the Matopos National Park, in collaboration with ZimParks. "Mining and agriculture can coexist, but only when both are conducted legally and in accordance with the law. We need to identify those who are mining legally and ensure that illegal miners are removed from the area," she said.
Chancellor Chidziva, the acting provincial mining director for Matabeleland South, confirmed that miners must obtain special permits from ZimParks to operate within the national park. "ZimParks is the custodian of the Matopos National Park, and all miners must seek their approval before obtaining a permit from our office," he explained. However, he was unable to provide the exact number of miners currently holding special permits.
Mr. Thembelani Sibanda, ZimParks senior area manager, reiterated that the majority of gold panners operating in the area are doing so illegally, without the necessary special permits. He emphasized that the area was designated for cattle rearing, and only miners with special grants were allowed to work there. "ZimParks acknowledges the growing problem of illegal mining, and we appeal for collaboration from all stakeholders to remove these illegal miners," he said.
The illegal mining activities have caused significant environmental damage, with parts of the Matopos National Park being classified as one of the worst-degraded areas in the province. According to EMA provincial manager Mr. Decent Ndlovu, the area is considered a "hotspot" for illegal mining. "It's disheartening to see all the rehabilitation work done by the farmers over the years being destroyed by illegal mining. This area has supported thousands of cattle, and it's a tragedy to see it all undermined by such activities," he said.
The government's intervention aims to address the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and protect the valuable livestock industry, which plays a critical role in the economy of Matabeleland South. The situation remains dire, and stakeholders are hopeful that a more coordinated and decisive approach will be taken to curb the illegal activities and preserve the integrity of the Matopos National Park.
Source - The Chronicle
