President Declares River Disaster as Minister Anxious Masuka Pushes for Urgent Ecosystem Restoration

By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe Bans Alluvial Mining Including River Rehabilitation: What the Government Directive Means

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a State of Disaster on Zimbabwe’s degraded river systems, paving the way for an emergency nationwide rehabilitation programme targeting damage caused by illegal and destructive alluvial mining activities.

Zimbabwe facing river mining problems
The declaration, contained in Statutory Instrument 91 of 2026 titled Civil Protection (Declaration of State of Disaster: Emergency Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation) Notice, 2026, was gazetted on May 28 and establishes a broad framework for the restoration of rivers affected by riverbed and alluvial mining.

Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment, described the intervention as critical to safeguarding water supplies, agriculture and fragile ecosystems.

“I am humbled by the President’s bold magnanimity to eliminate this scourge of degradation of rivers from alluvial mining activities to allow ecosystem restoration for agriculture, industry and the environment,” said Dr Masuka.

He warned that environmental degradation linked to alluvial mining was already affecting irrigation schemes, urban water supplies and river systems across the country.

“For example, areas proximal to Mazowe and Mwenje dams have had to reduce the area under irrigation for winter wheat due to alluvial mining activities and diversion of river systems. In Umzingwane, alluvial mining activities threaten supply of water to Bulawayo, while the Mutare River is choked and diverted, interrupting water flow,” he said.

“We must act with urgency and purpose to ensure the President’s directive is fully implemented within the available timeframe.”

According to the statutory instrument, Zimbabwe’s major river systems have suffered extensive pollution, siltation, destruction of river channels and disruption of aquatic ecosystems due to years of uncontrolled riverbed mining.

Government said the emergency rehabilitation programme is rooted in constitutional obligations to protect the environment, sustainably manage natural resources and prevent ecological degradation.

Among rivers earmarked for rehabilitation are the Mazowe, Murowodzi, Save, Angwa, Sanyati, Munyati, Mupfure, Umzingwane, Insiza, Mutare, Haroni and Nyamukwarara rivers, spanning Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces.

The latest intervention follows a series of Government measures introduced since 2024 to curb environmental destruction associated with alluvial mining.

In August 2024, Cabinet approved a report on alluvial mining and rehabilitation of degraded rivers presented by Dr Masuka in his capacity as chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining and Environment.

Cabinet noted that since the expansion of large-scale and mechanised alluvial mining activities in 2011, river systems across several provinces had experienced escalating pollution, siltation and ecological degradation.

Government subsequently imposed an immediate nationwide ban on riverbed mining.

In October 2024, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo also directed ministries, departments and agencies to stop destructive alluvial gold mining activities along major rivers in the province, particularly the Sanyati, Mupfure and Angwa rivers.

Authorities accused some operators of abusing desilting permits issued by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) by engaging in unauthorised mining activities that worsened environmental damage.

Under the new statutory instrument, Government has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation to oversee implementation of the rehabilitation programme.

The committee will comprise ministers responsible for environment, water, mining, home affairs and local government, among other portfolios.

A Technical Working Party chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary to Cabinet has also been established to evaluate rehabilitation contractors, monitor projects and coordinate implementation through EMA, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and provincial mining authorities.

Provincial committees chaired by Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will supervise implementation at local level alongside EMA, ZINWA, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Provincial Mining Directors.

The rehabilitation programme includes restoration of natural river channels, stabilisation of riverbanks, replanting of indigenous vegetation, sediment management, pollution control, removal of invasive species and continuous water quality monitoring.

Government said contractors engaged under the programme must demonstrate expertise in hydrology, ecology, environmental engineering and river rehabilitation, as well as compliance with environmental regulations.

The statutory instrument also imposes strict operational conditions, including restrictions on rehabilitation work during peak rainy seasons, a ban on construction of processing plants within 500 metres of riverbanks and mandatory environmental audits before projects are cleared.

Approved rehabilitation contractors will be permitted to recover minerals encountered during rehabilitation activities under strict supervision by mining authorities.

However, Government stressed that the rehabilitation programme must not be used as a cover for ordinary alluvial mining operations and that all recovered minerals will remain subject to royalties and regulatory oversight.

The Environmental Management Agency has also been empowered to halt any contractor whose activities threaten the environment or violate approved rehabilitation plans.

Government said the programme seeks not only to rehabilitate degraded rivers, but also to restore biodiversity, improve water quality, strengthen climate resilience and protect critical national water infrastructure supporting agriculture, industry and urban settlements.