Mnangagwa declares 17 degraded rivers a state of disaster

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared 17 heavily degraded rivers across Zimbabwe a state of disaster following years of environmental damage caused by legal and illegal mining activities.

The declaration, announced through the Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation) Notice 2026, was published in a Statutory Instrument contained in an Extraordinary Government Gazette issued yesterday.

The move is expected to enable Government to mobilise resources and accelerate rehabilitation programmes aimed at restoring affected river ecosystems.

The rivers identified under the declaration include Mazowe and Murowodzi Rivers in Mashonaland Central Province; Mazowe and Save Rivers in Mashonaland East Province; and Angwa, Sanyati, Munyati and Mupfure Rivers in Mashonaland West Province.

Also included are Umzingwane and Insiza Rivers in Matabeleland South Province; Manzimudaka, Mutebekwi, Sanyati and Mtshingwe Rivers in Midlands Province; as well as Mutare, Haroni and Nyamukwarara Rivers in Manicaland Province.

Government said the rivers have suffered extensive degradation largely linked to alluvial mining operations, both licensed and illegal, which have disrupted river flows, damaged aquatic ecosystems and increased environmental risks in surrounding communities.

"As a result of the need to properly rehabilitate riverine ecosystems throughout Zimbabwe that have been adversely affected by legal and illegal alluvial mining activities, a state of disaster exists throughout Zimbabwe with effect from the promulgation of this declaration," reads part of the notice.

Environmental experts have long warned about the destructive impact of uncontrolled mining activities on Zimbabwe's rivers, including siltation, water pollution, destruction of riverbanks and loss of biodiversity.

The declaration is expected to pave the way for coordinated rehabilitation programmes involving Government agencies, environmental authorities and other stakeholders in a bid to restore the affected waterways and strengthen environmental protection measures.