29/08/2025
Environmental Damage by Miners "Worse Than Income," says Minister
John Cassim
In a no holds barred discussion, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, Davies Marapira condemned the use of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reports as a form of "greenwashing" by some mining companies.
He said this at a side event of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in Harare on Thursday, where he argued that some companies cause severe environmental damage that creates significant challenges for farmers.
"I was born on a farm almost 60 years ago," Marapira said. "There was no active mining then, but if you go back to Nyamunda where I was born, it's almost upside down, with farmers crying. People claim to be miners, but they are environmental damagers all around the farms, causing no social peace or bringing no income, only destruction to the environment."
Marapira also referenced the Chinese Ambassador, who shared that China had faced similar issues but now has "bylaws" and "laws which they respect," resulting in a "peaceful and clean environment."
ESG reporting provides insight into an organization's management of its non-financial risks related to environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance.
According to the Marapira, while some mining companies practice robust social responsibility, many do not.
This has left farmers vulnerable to polluted water, posing a health risk to both humans and livestock, open pits left near farms, which are dangerous traps for livestock, and diverted rivers, causing water shortages that affect irrigation for farmers.
Marapira stated that some mining companies use their ESG reports as a cover-up for the damage they cause, claiming to reduce environmental impact without taking real action.
"I am a practical person and don't like theories," Marapira said. "We have to go on the ground and speak on things which we see, the damages, and measure the amount of damages as opposed to the income which we think we may be generating."
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He questioned the true value of such mining activities, "We are talking of possibly getting US$ 1.3 billion from gold, but the damage which would have created would be US$ 6 billion.
So, we are not moving. We are saying we are getting money, but when it comes to environment or damage, we are doing worst to our environment. And in your view, why would we need to have ESG-aligned growth strategies?"
While ESG reporting is currently voluntary in Zimbabwe, primarily for companies listed on the stock exchange, the government is pushing for a wider adoption of responsible mining practices.
Pfungwa Kunaka, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, explained that his ministry is championing a Responsible Mining Initiative, which was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May 2023.
"As government, we have a responsibility to enforce our laws to ensure that something is done in terms of rehabilitation," Kunaka said. "This is a collective initiative. We cannot just leave it to the miners."
He emphasized that responsible mining requires a collective effort from all levels of society, including community and traditional leaders.
According to Kunaka, a key aspect of this framework is to ensure environmental compliance by encouraging companies to adopt cleaner technologies, renewable energy integration and responsible waste management.
Steady Kangata, the Director of Environmental Management Services at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), agreed that a "whole government approach" is necessary to combat greenwashing within the mining sector.
He noted that environmental degradation is not only caused by large mining companies but also by the country's nearly 1.5 million artisanal miners.
"It is unfortunate that environmental degradation is not just being done by big mining companies but everyone," Kangata explained. "Yet when it comes to policing as EMA, there are only about 300 of us."
