The effects of illegal gold mining by Globe and Phoenix mine retrenches on the environment

Abstract

This study explores the environmental degradation in Globe and Phoenix mine that has been caused by illegal mining by the mine retrenchees. It seeks to examine the cause of illegal mining in Globe and Phoenix mine with regard to the fact that it used to be the biggest and first mine to be established in Zimbabwe. The city of Kwekwe came to being because of the establishment of the mining center. The extent of the degradation is assessed in view of the strategies that are being taken by the government and stakeholders, are the measures to mitigate the problem solving the issues or they are just right answers to the wrong problem. The researcher used the qualitative approach in the process of data collection. This involved observational fieldwork, archival research, interviews and questionnaires. Development and the environment are interlinked, hence negative impacts on the environment consequently affects development. Illegal mining activities are contributing to land degradation of which this affects the environment permanently posing a danger to the present and future generation. Therefore the small gains of illegal mining activities do not outweigh the long term effects of these activities on the environment. The government and stakeholders in mining and environmental management must formulate policies that enable illegal miners to formalize their activities, for these policies to yield positive results the community and illegal miners must participate in the policy making process instead of making them passive recipients.