Sustainable sand excavation

Sand and gravel have been raw materials in the construction industry for infrastructural development, making of roads and buildings since time immemorial. Sand extraction is one of the major drivers to land degradation in Zimbabwe’s urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

MOST of the sand miners do so from undesignated points and do not rehabilitate the land afterwards, leaving the place disfigured and dominated by open pits. The abandoned sites are a death trap to human beings and animals. Having noted these trends the Environment Management Agency has put in place measures to ensure sustainable abstraction of clay deposits, river and pit sands.

The extraction of sand should be carefully monitored in order to prevent land degradation that may ravage the aesthetic value for the environment. Ecosystems protection is everyone’s responsibility; therefore, anyone who wishes to excavate sand or clay should apply for a licence from the Agency.

The applicant will first consult the Local Authority for a designated piece of land from where the extraction can be done.

Impacts of Indiscriminate Sand Mining

Indiscriminate extraction of sand results in the following:

◆ Land degradation

◆ Abandoned pits are life threatening to humans and animals, both wild and domestic as they have acted as death traps.

◆ The open pits allow the collection of water resulting in the breeding of mosquitoes.

◆ Loosens the bed and banks of public rivers leading to siltation.

◆ Destruction of agricultural land thereby threatening to livelihoods and food security.

Legislation on Sand Excavations

According to the Environmental Management Act (Cap 20:27), as read with Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 (EIA and Ecosystem Protection Regulations); “No person shall excavate, remove, possess or licence the removal of clay or sand deposit for commercial purposes without a licence by the Agency.”

Sand Extraction Licencing Procedure

The applicant completes an application form available on the Agency’s website or at your nearest EMA office. The form should be endorsed by the Local Authority, lessee or land owner. A stand- ard extraction point should measure 20m by 20m (200 square metres). An Environmental Management Plan for the site should be produced detailing the excavation and rehabilitation plans that will accompany the completed application forms. A quarterly application fee is paid by the applicant per extraction point for the licence and subsequent renewals.

Sand Transporters Licencing Procedure

The sand transporter completes an application form and submits it together with copies of:

◆ Certificate of fitness of the vehicle.

◆ Photographs of the front and rear of the vehicle.

◆ Vehicle registration book.

◆ National identity card of the vehicle owner.

◆ Certificate of incorporation for companies.

The sand transportation license is renewed quarterly for a nominal fee per truck.

Review Process

After the submission for the application, the Director-General may consider the application or may require further information desirable for sustainable utilization of the resources before a licence can be issued or rejected.

However, if the applicant has been granted the certificate and has failed to comply with the stipulated requirements of the environmental rehabilitation plan the Agency may cancel the certificate.

In addition; anyone who contravenes the law shall be liable to a fine that not exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.

Report all illegal solid waste dumps and sewer bursts to EMA and your Local Authority.