How Chinese mines are killing wildlife
http://www.aggregateresearch.com/
Oct, 11 2010
(Zimbabwe) — Chinese companies are mining chrome in northern Zimbabwe in
areas designated for wildlife conservancy and safari operations.
The companies, San He Mining Company Private Limited Zimbabwe and Lebbenon
Investments, are doing so in the Guruve area of northern Zimbabwe, in
operations that appear to be secret.
A notice at the entrance of the Lebbenon Investments has 10 commandments for
the workers. Two of them read: “Thou shall not speak about the company
operations, anyone who talks about the company operations will be fired” and
“entry is not automatic”.
The companies are said to be operating without environmental impact
assessment (EIA) certificates.
An environmentalist who works in the area told The Sunday Times that the
mining started in 2004. “They have been here since 2004, but their
operations have not been that big. But now they have intensified, destroying
water sources and polluting rivers as they process their chrome,” he said,
asking not to be named.
The area, known as Mavuradonha Wilderness Conservancy, is under siege from
the Chinese, who have installed state-of-the-art mining and processing
machinery enclosed in Great Wall-like surroundings. Several dusty roads have
been built and huge open holes and heavy Caterpillar equipment now litter
the landscape.
Some villagers have abandoned their homesteads because the roads which the
trucks use are right next to their homesteads. The dust from the open-cast
mines makes life unbearable.
The mining is concentrated at the Penrose Farm and near Tengenenge Arts
Community Centre, threatening its survival and that of the 200 artists and
their families.
Mavuradonha Conservancy is a vast area of pristine land surrounded by
mineral-rich mountains and wild animals, such as elephants, lions, cheetah,
buffalo, giraffes and kudus.
The area is also regarded as the breeding ground for the wild animals found
in the Zambezi Valley.
It is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Resources legislation.
The area measures about 600 square kilometres and houses the important
ecosystems of the Great Dyke and its special species. Local conservationists
have been working for years to have it accorded World Heritage status by the
UN.
An attempt to talk to the Chinese manning the mining sites was futile. They
pretended not to understand English, although they speak to their workers in
the language. Efforts to get comment from the Chinese counsellor for
economic and commercial affairs in Harare were unsuccessful as phones went
unanswered.
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Obert Mpofu, said he did not
know the two Chinese companies. “I don’t know those companies but all of
them should be subjected to the country’s mining regulations and have an EIA
done to guide their activities, I will take up the issue with the mining
commissioner,” he said.
“We don’t condone activities that destroy the environment, it is unfortunate
that people tend to ignore that, especially when they are mining out of the
glare of the public, like in Guruve.”
But the Minister of Environment, Francis Mhema, said his ministry had
already ordered the companies to stop mining. “We have stopped them, we had
not authorised any EIA. They must go out forthwith because that area is our
pristine land.”
But the Chinese were still at work when we visited the area last week.
Source:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article697830.ece/How-Chinese-mines-are-killing-wildlife