https://cite.org.zw/zela-slams-regulatory-gaps-in-wake-of-mazayi-river-cyanide-spill/. A recent cyanide spill in Mazayi River, Maphisa, has triggered renewed concern over Zimbabwe’s regulatory failings, negligence in the mining sector, and poor community engagement that continues to expose citizens to toxic harm. Environmental watchdog, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), says the disaster is a reflection of deeper national challenges around environmental governance and accountability. In April, shocked villagers in Matobo District discovered hundreds of dead fish floating in the Mazayi River, an essential water source for locals who use it for various domestic purposes. The suspected cause was cyanide poisoning, believed to have emanated from nearby gold mining operations and poor cyanide disposal. Read story here: https://cite.org.zw/mining-pollution-kills-fish-threatens-public-health-in-maphisas-mazayi-river/ The spill has become the latest flashpoint in Zimbabwe’s escalating crisis of unregulated mining and its devastating effects on water safety, ecosystems and public health. “Quite tragic,” said ZELA legal officer Manele Mpofu, speaking during This Morning on Asakhe, a public discussion hosted on CITE’s X Space platform on Thursday. https://t.co/CHMsqqMqWQ — CITE (@citezw) May 15, 2025 “The situation is a reflection of the state of mining across Zimbabwe. Environmental management is often sidelined for economic gain. This is not an isolated event, it highlights how our regulatory frameworks are found wanting, along with negligence from both formal and informal mining operations. Poor community engagement, as pointed out by the local councillor, leads to environmental harm and undermines public trust in commercial enterprises.” Mpofu added that despite Zimbabwe having legal frameworks against hazardous chemicals such as cyanide and mercury, enforcement remains weak. “This highlights a recurring failure around due diligence in mining operations. How cyanide or mercury is handled or disposed of brings critical environmental challenges. Despite laws such as the Minamata Convention, which bans mercury use, we still see widespread usage. The fact that this spill occurred without swift mitigation raises serious concerns about compliance and reflects a blatant disregard for the law and affected communities,” he said. ZELA noted this latest incident is part of a disturbing national trend where communities bear the brunt of environmental degradation while enforcement agencies struggle to keep pace. “There are similar cases of water contamination across catchments, whether caused by large corporations or small-scale miners. Communities are left to pay the cost,” Mpofu said. “This is not just a local issue in Maphisa, it has systemic roots. It’s about the capacity and coordination of our regulatory ecosystem. When communities are excluded from key environmental processes, it deepens frustration and erodes trust.” Mpofu added that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which are required by law, are rarely made accessible to the public. “The Environmental Management Act calls for participatory processes. Yet EIA documents, which should explain how mining will take place, how rehabilitation will happen, and what mitigation plans are in place, are not made public,” he said. “This lack of transparency in the licensing regime and environmental processes means communities are unable to demand accountability or fully understand what is happening.” The legal officer also warned that when public trust in oversight institutions erodes, environmental governance suffers. “When people lose trust in institutions meant to protect them, we lose one of the most important tools in natural resources, which is governance and public cooperation. These incidents diminish social license and normalise pollution in mining zones yet Section 73 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution is clear, everyone has the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment,” Mpofu said. During the discussion, a participant, MaDube, asked whether government agencies were holding mining operators accountable for environmental degradation. In response, Mpofu outlined the regulatory responsibilities of key agencies. “The Ministry of Mines is responsible for issuing prospecting licenses and should provide proper oversight of mining operations. The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) also plays a role in vetting investments for compliance with national standards,” he said. “Importantly, when it comes to environmental protection, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), housed under the Ministry of Environment, is central. No mining should proceed without an approved EIA, which EMA must regulate.” Mpofu acknowledged there have been legal interventions, thanks to Zimbabwe’s constitution. “We’ve seen cases where communities have approached courts or pursued non-judicial mechanisms like internal grievance processes. The Constitution gives sweeping mandates for environmental protection, and these rights are justiciable,” he said. Another participant, Mdara Gee, lamented the long history of environmental destruction across the country, blaming systemic corruption and economic decay for enforcement failures. “Most of our heritage is gone. Gold is found along rivers, attracting destructive mining. Boterekwa is gone, Makaha is gone, Save River is gone, Kwekwe River is gone… Authorities know, but nothing is done,” he said. “We have EMA that works but there is massive corruption. There is never going to be any work because there is corruption due to our fragility as an economy.” The participants added Zimbabwe’s economy was also a contributing factor. “The government is always saying ‘the economy is looking up’ but they forget it is looking up by lying on its back, not looking up in the economic sense. Unless there are incentives and political will, nothing will change.” Mdara Gee also warned that granting licenses without oversight only worsens environmental damage. “People want to earn a living, so they mine. But when the very authorities giving out permits know the environmental risks and do nothing, it’s a policy failure,” he added. *Independent journalism takes time, resources, and dedication,* *but we do it because your perspective matters.* *Support our work. Donate today* : *https://cite.org.zw/support-local-news/*