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Harare Mayor calls for orderly gravel mining
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Mayor Jacob Mafume has called for private companies to carry out orderly gravel mining at Warren Hills, citing environmental degradation, safety hazards, and reduced quality of life for nearby residents.
Cllr Mafume described the hills as an "eyesore," with dust, chaos, and reckless mining damaging roads and surrounding areas.
"When you look at the work being done at the Museum of African Liberation and you juxtapose it with what is happening at Warren Hills, you see ugliness, a mountain that is being literally torn apart and abused in a dangerous, reckless manner," he said.
He tasked the City of Harare's Environmental Management Committee to assess the area, consult miners and residents, and develop a comprehensive solution. Cllr Mafume suggested that gravel could be mined elsewhere and emphasised the need for operators capable of both extraction and site rehabilitation.
"We are allowing a free-for-all, makorokoza-type mining. So let's have a more orderly extraction and work within the frameworks," he said.
Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori highlighted additional concerns, noting that mining is affecting the only water reservoir in Warren Hills and causing cracks in the ground. He warned that miners working less than 100 meters from residential areas create health risks from dust and physical dangers from rock falls.
"Residents also risk physical harm from rock falls. Last year, a mining worker was killed by falling rocks. It can happen to the residents as well," Cllr Machirori said. He added that residents can no longer dry laundry outside due to dust.
The mayor emphasised that any rehabilitation plan must clearly outline stopping points for mining and strategies to restore the area to safe and sustainable conditions.
Cllr Mafume described the hills as an "eyesore," with dust, chaos, and reckless mining damaging roads and surrounding areas.
"When you look at the work being done at the Museum of African Liberation and you juxtapose it with what is happening at Warren Hills, you see ugliness, a mountain that is being literally torn apart and abused in a dangerous, reckless manner," he said.
He tasked the City of Harare's Environmental Management Committee to assess the area, consult miners and residents, and develop a comprehensive solution. Cllr Mafume suggested that gravel could be mined elsewhere and emphasised the need for operators capable of both extraction and site rehabilitation.
"We are allowing a free-for-all, makorokoza-type mining. So let's have a more orderly extraction and work within the frameworks," he said.
Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori highlighted additional concerns, noting that mining is affecting the only water reservoir in Warren Hills and causing cracks in the ground. He warned that miners working less than 100 meters from residential areas create health risks from dust and physical dangers from rock falls.
"Residents also risk physical harm from rock falls. Last year, a mining worker was killed by falling rocks. It can happen to the residents as well," Cllr Machirori said. He added that residents can no longer dry laundry outside due to dust.
The mayor emphasised that any rehabilitation plan must clearly outline stopping points for mining and strategies to restore the area to safe and sustainable conditions.
Source - The Herald
