By Thandiwe Garusa
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has strongly opposed a proposed coal mining project by a Chinese company, Sunny Ye Feng in Sinamatella, a section of Hwange National Park.
Sunny Ye Feng submitted an application for an Exclusive Prospecting Order No. 04 of 2021 in the Matabeleland North mining district.
Sunny Ye Feng has a past of environmental infractions, with a recent closure order from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) due to pollution.
The proposed site is a critical habitat for black rhinos and currently supports a growing population of this endangered species.
In a statement, Thursday, ZimParks raised alarm over the negative impacts of mining within a national park, which include biodiversity and wildlife habitat destruction as well as species extinction.
“ZimParks urges the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel the application for an exclusive prospection of mining activities in Hwange National Park, specifically targeting the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone and never to entertain such applications in future.
“Needless to mention that the proposed mining project will actually increase the risk of species extinction and prospects of population recovery will be negatively affected.
“The proposed mining project poses a significant threat, worsening the degradation of land, a critical concern for ZimParks, which has a mandate to ensure that at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and ecosystems are restored by 2030.
“While we have made substantial progress in reviving wildlife populations across the nation, the introduction of mining activities in this vital area would undermine ecological conditions essential for wildlife survival and reproduction.
“This compromise will hinder our ongoing efforts to maintain and restore healthy populations of wildlife,” ZimParks said.
ZimParks also expressed worries over air, noise, and land pollution, which will harm both visitors and nature while promoting human wildlife conflict.
The authority added that allowing mining in a national park will harm Zimbabwe’s global reputation in sustainable conservation.
“Approving mining in this zone would not only contradict ZimParks’ conservation mandate but also tarnish Zimbabwe’s reputation regionally and internationally as a world leader in sustainable conservation.
“Furthermore, mining activities are known to create air, noise, and land pollution, which detrimentally impact visitor experiences and disrupt wildlife movement, not mentioning the increased cases of poaching.
“Hwange National Park is home to Africa’s second-largest elephant population, and mining may interfere with the flow of groundwater, threatening vital water sources relied upon by our wildlife.
“This disruption can worsen existing water shortages, leading to increased mortality rates in species and heightened human- wildlife conflict in surrounding communities,” ZimParks added.
Sinamatela is home to the Bumbusi ruins, which hold historical and cultural significance for the Nambian-speaking communities dating back to the 18th century, and traditional leaders from the region visit the area annually to conduct cultural rituals and rain-making ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Hwange residents and other environmental rights organisations and activists have also raised similar concerns.