Scaled-up Illegal Gold Mining Activities in Chimanimani Post-Tropical Cyclone Idai

Abstract

The challenges of illegal gold mining are well known; environmental damage, violence from syndicates, poor sanitation, deaths and ill-health are among such. From natural hazards that include extreme floods, tropical cyclones and earthquakes, new and/or expanded gold deposits can be exposed causing a rush. The chapter investigates the impact of Tropical Cyclone Idai on the illegal gold mining and related activities from the Chimanimani area in Zimbabwe. Through the use of elements of citizen science, interviews, focus group discussions, on the ground observation, and geographical information systems (GIS), the findings show that there was a gold rush in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. The gold rush led to extensive degradation of biodiversity and the natural Chimanimani (Mawenje) Mountains’ aesthetics. Illegal gold miners came from far and wide, colonising the gold hotspots such as the Chimanimani Mountains, Nyabamba, Tarka Forest, Chimanimani National Park and Blocky. Water pollution, dying aquatic life, damaged cultural and traditional sites, as well as extensive deforestation also emerged. Illegal gold mining and its associated activities were a real threat to the tourism industry as many tourists would hike along trails in the Chimanimani Mountains. To this end, the chapter recommends that the government finds lasting solutions to the problem, including scaling up patrols and rooting out corruption from its security officials. There is also a need to capacitate and educate the illegal miners to protect the environment, and use a carrot and stick approach to address the situation.