Peter Moyo
Harare– Lawmakers in the National Assembly this week raised tough questions on the government’s handling of pollution, mining rehabilitation, and environmental law enforcement, with concerns over air quality in Hwange and the state of abandoned mines taking center stage.
Hwange East MP, Hon. Joseph Bonda questioned the government’s efforts to control pollution in Hwange, where coal mining and power generation have led to worsening air quality. Responding to the issue, Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister, Honorable Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni, admitted that pollution remains a serious concern and pointed to existing regulations under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and Statutory Instrument 72 of 2009.
Nyoni said the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has been provided with equipment to monitor emissions, including flu gas analyzers and micro-dust analyzers. She also revealed plans to introduce Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMs) for real-time air quality checks.
“We have already capacitated the Environmental Management Agency with some of the required equipment… Plans are at an advanced stage to install real-time air emissions monitoring in Hwange, which will allow continuous data collection,” Nyoni said.
On the issue of abandoned mines and land degradation, Nyoni reiterated that mining companies are legally required to rehabilitate the land before ceasing operations. She said the government is enforcing the “polluter pays” principle, which places the responsibility of restoring mined areas on the companies that exploited them.
“The polluter or someone who has dug the holes has the responsibility to rehabilitate… We are calling upon the public to also work together with us so that we mitigate [environmental damage],” Nyoni said.
However, legislators questioned whether this policy was being effectively enforced, given the large number of derelict mines across the country. In response, Nyoni said a team was commissioned in 2024 to conduct “responsible mining audits” to assess compliance with environmental laws.
MPs also pressed for answers on how the government plans to involve communities in protecting the environment. Nyoni revealed that amendments to the Environmental Management Act are being drafted to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, particularly in post-mining rehabilitation.
“We have to continuously strengthen our laws to ensure deterrence and accountability. To that extent, we are working on a bill to amend the Environmental Management Act, which will go a long way in addressing some of the loopholes we are identifying,” she said.
Nyoni also said her ministry is working on integrating environmental considerations into national budget planning.
“Our ultimate objective is to make environmental accounts part of the national budgeting process,” she noted.
As climate and environmental issues continue to dominate debate, MPs are expected to push for more concrete action from the government, with concerns over enforcement, funding, and accountability remaining key sticking points.
