Sand poaching along Seke Road and unregulated brick moulding in Harare’s Mt Hampden area continue to ravage the region’s ecosystem, posing a dire threat to both the environment and the livelihoods of nearby communities.
Trucks laden with illegally mined sand rumble daily worsening the already fragile state of the environment in the Seke Road area, meanwhile, in the vicinity of Harare’s Mt Hampden area, uncontrolled brick moulding activities have become a prevalent menace, leaving a trail of environmental destruction in their wake.
In an interview, Director of Environment at the City of Harare, Lisbon Chipfunde highlighted the steps being taken to address these issues. “We are in the process of creating system of providing leases and ensuring Lessees have in place active Environmental Management Plans (EMP) for the rehabilitation and/or restoration of the degraded land,” said Chipfunde.
Moreover, he said the city has identified points where illegal brick molding activities occur and has developed a model Environmental Bylaw awaiting approval from the Attorney-General.
“We have identified all the points where illegal brick molding is occurring, developed a model Environmental Bylaw which is at the stage Attorney-General approval, conducted joint enforcement blitz with Harare Municipal Police (HMP), Environmental Management Agency (EMA), City Development Control Unit, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). However, these illegal activities keep on resurfacing,” he said
In terms of legal frameworks, Chipfunde highlighted existing legislation such as the Environmental Management Agency Statutory Instrument (SI) 7 of 2007, City of Harare bylaws, and impending Environmental Model Bylaw aimed at deterring and penalizing individuals and organizations involved in illegal sand poaching and brick molding activities.
Environmental Management Agency environment education and publicity manager, Amkela Sidange, emphasized the illegality of these activities. “Sand poaching and brick moulding by individuals in Mt Hampden are illegal activities. The Agency usually conducts adhoc raids in collaboration with police to control the poaching. Local authorities are mandated to establish designated areas for sand abstraction.
“Sand remains a resource under the custodian of local authorities and they are mandated by law as enshrined in Statutory instrument 7 of 2007 to set aside designated sites for sand abstraction. Local authorities are called upon to ring fence natural resources under their jurisdiction for the benefit of current and future generations; and to protect land that can be used for other commercial purposes,” said Sidange.
