President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended by two months the State of Disaster he declared on 17 rivers that need rehabilitation for two months, after years of damage caused by mining and related activities.
The extension is contained in Statutory Instrument 146 of 2026, issued under the Civil Protection (Declaration of Disaster Emergency Riverine Ecosystem Rehabilitation) Notice.
According to the regulations, rehabilitation work is still underway and has not been completed to the satisfaction of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation. The committee felt the initial three-month period was not enough to finish the work, hence the extension.
The declaration, first made in May this year, allows the Government to mobilise resources for the rehabilitation programme. At the time, President Mnangagwa said several rivers had been badly affected by mining activities.
The 17 rivers earmarked for rehabilitation are in six provinces. In Mashonaland Central, the rivers are Mazowe and Murowodzi. In Mashonaland East, they are Mazowe and Save. In Mashonaland West, they are Angwa, Sanyati, Munyati and Mupfure. In Matabeleland South, they are Umzingwane and Insiza. In Midlands Province, they are Manzimudaka, Mutebekwi, Sanyati and Mtshingwe. In Manicaland Province, they are Mutare, Haroni and Nyamukwarara.
The regulations state that the extension means all powers, duties and arrangements under the initial notice will remain in force until the rehabilitation programme is completed. President Mnangagwa said any contracts entered into under the initial notice will also remain in force.
The programme is being overseen by an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation, jointly chaired by the Ministers responsible for Environment and Water Resources.
Its functions include calling for bids for rehabilitation contracts, approving the contracts, overseeing their implementation and dealing with written grievances.
Other members are the Ministers responsible for Mines, Home Affairs and Local Government, plus any other minister or representative whose participation is deemed necessary by the joint chairpersons.
The regulations also provide that any minerals recovered by an approved contractor must be reported to the Ministry of Mines within seven days. The ministry may carry out an inspection to verify the quantity and value of the minerals for royalty purposes.
More: The Herald
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