PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe steps up mercury-free mining drive in Matabeleland North
BONGANI MAZIWAYINKOSI IN BULAWAYO
The PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe Project has intensified its campaign to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) through a series of Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) training and sensitisation roadshows targeting miners and mining communities in Matabeleland North.
Speaking during a roadshow at Queens Mine in Inyathi, PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe Project Manager Nyasha Mutonhori said the initiative is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to fulfil its obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution.
She said the project, which is being implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe, seeks to reduce mercury use in Zimbabwe’s ASGM sector by 4.85 tonnes through the adoption of safer, cleaner and more sustainable gold processing technologies.
“Today we are conducting Safety, Health and Environment training and sensitisation roadshows to educate artisanal and small-scale gold miners, as well as surrounding communities, on the harmful environmental and health impacts associated with the use of mercury,” Mutonhori said.
The training programme is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Beyond raising awareness of mercury’s dangers, the programme is equipping miners with knowledge on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to improve occupational health and safety standards across the sector.
Zimbabwe signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013 and formally acceded to the treaty on August 19, 2021, committing the country to reducing and ultimately eliminating mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
Mutonhori said the project will establish mercury-free gold processing demonstration sites where miners will receive practical training on alternative gold recovery technologies that eliminate the need for mercury.
“We have identified mine sites that have agreed to serve as pilot demonstration centres. The project is operating in 11 districts across Zimbabwe and plans to establish eight mercury-free gold processing demonstration sites,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal capable of damaging the lungs, skin and eyes, while prolonged exposure can lead to severe neurological, cardiovascular and kidney disorders. The WHO ranks mercury among the world’s top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, with people primarily exposed to methylmercury through the consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish.
Zimbabwe’s National Action Plan on Mercury, launched in 2019, outlines measures to address the environmental, health and socio-economic challenges associated with mercury use in artisanal mining. The strategy emphasises stronger collaboration among government agencies, ASGM associations and other stakeholders to promote responsible mining practices while safeguarding the health of miners and surrounding communities.
Artisanal miner Constance Moyo welcomed the initiative, saying it had highlighted the dangers associated with mercury and the importance of adopting safer mining methods.
“We have learnt that while mercury helps recover gold, it can also affect our health, our families and the environment if it is not handled properly. We have been encouraged to use protective equipment and embrace the mercury-free technologies that will be introduced through this project,” Moyo said.
