More trainings and expos for Midlands miners in 2022: EMA
By Ndanatsiwa Tagwireyi
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says miners in the Midlands Province should look forward to more trainings and expos aimed at promoting sustainable mining in 2022 and beyond.
According to a Pan African focused business law firm Manokore Attorneys, sustainable mining is an objective as well as a tool for balancing economic, social and environmental consideration within the framework of mining projects.
Speaking to the Mining Vision Magazine, EMA Midlands Province Manager Benson Bhasera underscored the importance of regulating, monitoring, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment.
“We will be engaging miners regularly to raise awareness on the environment impact assessment requirements and other statutory requirements that relate to the operations of miners,” Bhasera said.
The EMA official emphasized that miners should have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate before resuming operations. According to EMA, EIA is an assessment of the possible impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment, consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects.
“Mining is destructive in nature, hence miners should make rehabilitation of mined areas a priority and it is also their responsibility to ensure that they clear invasive alien species in their mines,” he told the Mining Vision Magazine. “Most small scale miners are operating without EIA certificates which is a breach of law and some of these miners do their day to day activities in a haphazard manner with some leaving open pits.”
He also touched on the relationship between EMA and miners in the Midlands Province.
“We usually engage miners and their respective associations to discuss issues related to mining and the environment. However, it is sad to note that some small scale miners run away when we visit them in their areas of operations.”
