By Staff writer
A Gweru based environmentalist says some mining activities in the Midlands province pose a serious threat to food security in the country if they continue unregulated.
Dr Oswald Chishanga said indications are that these dangerous mining activities can, in the long run compromise the food security status of the country.
He was speaking at a press club discussion organised by MISA Zimbabwe in Gweru recently.
“From our preliminary findings in the areas that we operate, though not much,mining activities in the country have a bearing on food security,” Dr Chishanga said.
“It is something that is developing and if unregulated can have far reaching consequences, farmers are complaining of poisonous substances such as cyanide into the environment which affects farming.”
He added: “There is also a growing tendency where farmers are now abandoning farming for mining which offers lucrative packages. So there is need for coherence at policy level on farming and mining in the country.”
Artisanal miners in the mineral rich midlands province have been egregious for practicing in unsafe mining activities that are harmful to humans, livestock and the environment.
Meanwhile, speaking at the same event, Midlands miners forum representative Edgar Benjamin said artisanal miners are facing challenges in accessing health services.
“Our of our biggest challenges is that most of the artisanal miners we interact with are being behind in a lot of health programs,” Benjamin said.
“A lot of miners engage in a lot of dangerous activities which require health services to be readily available.”
