[Full report can be downloaded here]

Last year on 10^th & 11^th September 2010 a fly over of Hwange National Park (HNP)   revealed  increased mining activity inand around the Sinamatella area.  In addition to the mining carried out by Hwange Colliery Company Limited there are now at least 3 other coal mining developments, two adjoining HNP and one actually within the Park.

This mining activity is of grave concern.  The associated building of roads and increased human activity is bound to lead to an increase in poaching as the area is opened up, access becomes easier, and there are more people in the area to carry out the poaching and to buy the poached meat.

Further Sinamatella is a rhino intensive protection zone (IPZ). The survival of rhino throughout southern Africa is in doubt due to the ongoing slaughter of these animals for their horn.  The IPZs have proved successful but it will be extremely difficult for the Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (PWMA) to monitor and protect the rhino in the Sinamatella IPZ with all the additional traffic and activity resulting from these various mining operations both within the IPZ and on its boundaries.

Of even greater concern is the total devastation of large tracts of land in what until recently was a wilderness area. Whilst wildlife populations may recover, or be reintroduced, if poaching can be brought under control, it may not be possible to restore the wildlife once the habitat has been destroyed.

According to the Parks and Wild Life Act no one may mine within a national park unless they have a written agreement signed by the Minister of Environment and Tourism.  To date it has not been established if any of the three mines has such an agreement.  Before any of these developments began an environmental impact assessment (EIA) should have been completed – and the Environmental Management Policy requires this to be done.

With this in mind the Provincial Environmental Manager (PEM) Matabeleland North & Bulawayo provinces, Mrs Mpofu Sesu said she was not aware of any new mining developments taking place in the Sinamatella area nor was she able to find a record of any EIAs having been done.  The PEM subsequently visited the area but only managed to find one of the mines (see Mine 1 below).

Mine 1. along Hwange-Sinamatella road

This mine is located outside HNP about 10km from Hwange town along the road leading to Sinamatella.  The mining is apparently being done by a company called Makomo Resources. 

Mine 2 - at the Chawato Springs

This mine is at Chawato Springs, an area frequented by game, immediately adjacent to the HNP boundary and Sinamatella IPZ, and within the Deka Safari Area. 

Mine 3 - near Bumbusi

These mining operations are a threat not only to Zimbabwe’s wildlife but also to its cultural and archeological resources. This mine between Sinamatella and Bumbusi camp is within a few kilometers of the Bumbusi Ruins, which is a national monument.  In addition to the stone ruins, where Late Stone Age tools have been found, there are unusual sandstone engravings. In recent years National Museums and Monuments have undertaken an excavation in the area and it is believed there are many more archeological finds to be made – unless they are destroyed during bush clearing and mining.

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Parks & Wildlife Management Authority and the mining companies themselves should be making public what development is planned, and what measures have been put in place to protect the environment.