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Mines threaten wildlife, sacred sites – and people

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BY VIMBAI CHINEMBIRI / GAMUCHIRAI MASIYIWA

In early 2020, communities around Hwange National Park, in southwest Zimbabwe, feared the worst.

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On the fringes of the park, not far from the popular Sinamatela wildlife resort, miners explored whether the area held enough coal to mine.

This part of Sinamatela, which the government labels as an Intensive Protection Zone, is home to about 45,800 elephants. Black rhino, which are critically endangered, also live there.

But in September, the Zimbabwean government ordered a stop to mining in protected areas.

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Conservationists breathed a sigh of relief. Not for long.

Environmental activists fear the new policy – which doesn’t carry the weight of law – has failed to shield tens of thousands of animals and sacred sites in protected areas, kindling conflict between humans and wildlife that has killed scores of people since last year.

Mining in protected areas is “increasingly becoming a usual occurrence, from both large scale and artisanal miners within protected areas,” according to a report published by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, an organisation that focuses on research and policy.

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In other parts of the world, such as the American West, mining-related lung infections have afflicted some animals.

Electric cables have killed birds. Fish have died because of rerouted streams.

Protected areas in Zimbabwe are rich in gold and coal deposits, “so people have been moving in for economic gain,” said  Nqobizitha Ndlovu, the national legal and policy adviser at the environmental law association.

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In Zimbabwe, 64 protected areas include national parks, botanical reserves, sanctuaries, safaris and recreational parks, covering nearly 13% of the country’s land.

Early last year, locals spotted miners drilling in Hwange National Park.

Initially, they weren’t concerned, as they were used to seeing miners in the area.

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But they grew alarmed when, a few months later, the miners’ company produced a permit to explore for coal.

Park officials, safari owners, ordinary residents and community leaders led distress calls online, via the media and through community meetings challenging how the miners had won their permits.

Mining in protected areas can occur only with consent from the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and Zimbabwe’s president, according to the Parks and Wildlife Act.

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 Activist Fidelis Chima, coordinator of the Greater Whange Residents Trust, together with the law association, took the government to court in September, arguing that officials hadn’t received such consent.

And two days later, the government halted mining in protected areas.

But the new policy isn’t a law.

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“In terms of the laws of the country, policies are generally not binding, so if the government issues a policy and [envisions] that that policy should be binding, it should then change that policy into a legislation,” Ndlovu saod.

Absent a law, mining persists in protected areas, Ndlovu said. These areas include Chimanimani, which covers 171 square kilometers  and is famous for its elegant mountains and Eland Sanctuary.

It also hosts, among other wildlife: zebra; klipspringer, a small antelope known for its rock-climbing ability; bushbuck; hyena; and leopard.

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“The area is basically occupied with illegal

[freelance]

miners,” Ndlovu says.

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Mining left a trail of destruction, including deforestation and open pits, which affected the fauna and flora that attract people to these parks, said Collen Sibanda, a tour guide in Chimanimani.

Miners disturbed tributaries and dug inside sacred caves, he said. They removed cave stones in search of gold.

Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, denied those claims.

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“We have been trying to protect the park from our end to avoid illegal mining problems,” Farawo said.

 “We don’t have such reports. We have asked people to bring evidence of such activities, but no one is forthcoming.”

Mining risks heightening conflict between humans and wildlife, as evidenced by a local company’s impact on a protected safari area 10 kilometers outside Hwange town, says a conservationist who requested anonymity for fear of retribution.

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“The animal habitat has been affected terribly because they tend to move toward human habitat because of the noise from mining and contaminated water,” said the conservationist.

In January, a mining dump truck knocked down two elephants, he says.

And elephants, crocodiles and buffalo killed 50 people nationwide in the first half of last year due to mining activities and human-wildlife conflict, according to a report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, a Zimbabwe-based research and advocacy organisation.

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Onesimo Moyo, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, said the agency plans to cancel all mining titles held in protected areas.

But that doesn’t put everyone at ease.

Government officials must better acquaint themselves with the sites to which they give special grants, says Chief Charles Nekatambe, of Sinamatela.

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“No one should mess with [our sacred places], or anger our ancestors,” he said. “There are cultural processes that are done before mining occurs. This should be respected.” – Global Press Journal

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Game ranger accused of killing lions, appears in court

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZIMPARKS) ranger appeared before Hwange  Magistrates Court on Saturday, accused of killing three lions and removing their heads and paws.

Hali Mabuya, 39, and employee of the at Hwange National Park’s Mtshibi Camp, appeared before magistrate Fungai Dzimbiri facing charges of unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate.

The three lions, two females and one male, were found dead near the Dom Pan waterhole inside Hwange National Park on October 22.

The killing and dismembering of the animals is believed to have been carried out by more than one person, as tyre marks and footprints were observed at the scene.

ZIMPARKS had offered a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Prosecutor Jemesina Makanza told the court that Mabuya was arrested after attempting to return a Point 458 rifle to the armoury, with requests to alter the dates of when he had signed for and returned the weapon.

The rifle has since been matched to the bullets that killed the lions.

Mabuya was remanded in custody to November 1, as the investigation continues.

VicFallsLive will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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$2K reward offered for info on lion poachers in Hwange National Park

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has announced a $2000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected poachers who killed three lions in Hwange National Park.

The lions were found dead with their heads and legs chopped off.

“We are offering a reward of $2000 for any information that can lead to the arrest of suspects responsible for the poaching of three lions in Hwange National Park,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks spokesperson.

The incident was discovered on early this week near Nyamandlovu pan, Hwange Main Camp.

According to ZimParks, the lions’ carcasses were found with bullet holes from a heavy calibre rifle and their heads and legs had been chopped off.

The authority is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“You may contact Tinashe Farawo on 0772433901 or tfarawo@zimparks.org.zw. All information will be treated with strict confidence,” said Farawo.

 

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Poachers kill three lions in Hwange National Park

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

A suspected poaching incident has occurred in Hwange National Park, where three lions were found dead with their heads and legs chopped off.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is investigating the killing of the lions at Nyamandlovu pan, Hwange Main Camp.

According to an internal memo, three carcasses were discovered on Tuesday with their heads and legs chopped off, and bullet holes from a heavy calibre rifle were found on the carcasses.

The incident is currently under investigation by the K9 section.

The Hwange National Park, home to over 60 000 elephants, 150 other mammal species, and 400 bird species, is a country’s crucial area for wildlife conservation.

Conservationists say the park’s lion population is already under threat, and this incident only adds to the concern.

The Hwange Lion Research Project, run by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of Oxford University, has been monitoring the lion population for 15 years.

The project focuses on understanding lion behavior, ecology, and demographics to inform conservation strategies. Additionally, the SATIB Conservation Trust supports the project through funding and material support.

 

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