Stop chrome mining activities on highway — Government

GOVERNMENT has ordered all Chrome mining activities along the Shurugwi-Zvishavane Highway to stop due to the destruction that the unplanned extraction of the mineral is causing to the highway.

Since the surge in Chrome prices on the world market, there has been an increase in the extraction of the mineral along the road — a development that has seen excavators and front end loaders being used by miners just a few metres from the Shurugwi-Zvishavane Highway.

The development is disturbing motorists.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Cde Owen Ncube and Government officials toured the mining site before calling for all mining activities to cease with immediate effect. After touring the place, Cde Ncube castigated the miners for being irresponsible, saying their irresponsible methods of mining were destroying the road and putting lives and livestock at risk.

“This is an irresponsible way of mining,” he said. “We are not saying people should not mine, but they must do so responsibly. They should do their mining activities away from the road and homesteads. Cde Ncube said such irresponsible mining activities could drive away investors.

“Imagine if investors were to see this place,” he said. “Activities here show that you are not responsible as miners and this has the potential to drive investors away.

The place has literally become an eyesore. Let’s mine our minerals responsibly.”

Cde Ncube encouraged EMA and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to make sure that all miners are conducting mining activities using the correct methods.