By Margaret Kamba

Miners for Economic Development has begun its pilot project of rehabilitating areas left as death traps after mining activities have been done.

Gone will be the days when livestock and people lose their lives due to the open pits left after exploration of underground minerals.

In an interview, Dru Edmund Kucherera, Miners For Economic Development National Vice Chairman and Spokesperson said thanks to the engagement with the Secretary of Environment and Tourism within the ruling ZANU PF Party as well as the First Lady, Her Excellency Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, the country would see a transformed mining landscape.

"Apart from the traditional back filling and tree planting in these areas, especially in a year like 2024, where food security might be a challenge looking at the potential effects and consequences of a rainy season that has been sketchy, inconsistent and dry and has brought less than normal rains, we want to make use of the pits to create food secure communities," Cde Kucherera said.

"We will make use of all pits that have water filled the pits from the mining activities that previously took place. These pits will not need to be back filled but instead but will be protected (fenced) to avoid causing accidents. A tank and a pump are then installed on these pits. Basic drinkers will then be built around the pits to serve the community livestock. Seed fish will be introduced into the pits, while community gardens will be opened near the pits. The water from the pit will be pumped into a tank and will be channeled to the livestock drinkers and to water the community garden. This will assist the community in getting food (from the garden and fish from the pit) while ensuring that livestock will get water without fear of falling into the pits or getting stuck in mud as they try to access water.

"So, our SAFE Environment Concept covers land rehabilitation backfilling and tree planting and also introduces community gardens, fish farming in the pits and livestock drinkers."

Cde Kucherera said the success of the work is of paramount importance.

"The success of any idea rises and falls on its execution. No matter how noble an idea can be or how the idea is carried out, the cost of carrying it out and the personnel carrying it out are key components of its success.

"Back filling of pits is expensive. Most miners, after they finish mining, leave the place with open pits with no one to fill them. For some, the money would have been exhausted leaving them with no resource to use for the back filling. Our concept, therefore, rides on two kinds of pits, and these can be identified during the mining process. Beneficial pits are those pits that cut through underground water sources. These are pits that during the life of the mines constantly require pumping out of water to enable mining activities. These pits will not be back filled as they are good sources of water. We also encourage miners to open and close pits as they go if no water stream is hit during the excavation process.

"So we will visit all the pits that have been left open by miners in order to identify beneficial and bad pits. We will also work with EMA, the Forestry Commission and other potential partners including current miners in the areas so as to fence, purchase of a submissible pump, installation of 5,000 - 10,000 litre tanks, conduct the piping and construction of safe shallow drinkers for livestock. We will also engage with Village Heads, Headmen and Chiefs for land to locate community gardens. The community leaders will also talk to the villagers who will prepare the back filled land for tree planting.

"We are therefore currently undertaking the pilot project in Muzvondiwa area of Zvishavane District. Upon the success of this Pilot Project, we will roll the programme out in other Provinces across the country. Our provincial structures across the country will lead the undertaking of similar projects in other provinces. The pilot project to be undertaken will involve planting of one - two thousand trees, rehabilitating of five bad pits, and also developing three beneficial pits."

The mission of the organization is "To contribute to the growth of the mining industry through encouraging mineral beneficiation and value addition, promoting, developing, and advancing the interests of miners and players in the mining value chain."