The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has strongly opposed a special mining license application by Sunny Ye Feng (Pvt) Ltd in the ecologically sensitive Bumbusi Ruins area of Hwange, warning that the project could devastate tourism, wildlife, and Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage.
Sunny Ye Feng (Pvt) Ltd has a record of environmental violations, including a shutdown order by Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in August 2020 for failing to comply with pollution regulations.
“The applicant’s history of environmental violations, including a recent shutdown order by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for environmental pollution, raises serious concerns about their ability to operate responsibly. Notably, the applicant has faced multiple project closures due to similar violations, with the most recent instance being a shutdown order issued by EMA on 15 August 2020 after failing to comply with an earlier order on 5 August 2020. Given this history, it is troubling to consider the initiation of any new environmentally sensitive projects by this applicant,” said CNRG in a statement.
The CNRG warned that the proposed mining activities could result in severe environmental and socio-economic impacts, threatening Hwange National Park’s Sinamatela area and neighboring safari regions. The group highlighted risks such as disrupted wildlife movement, pollution of aquatic ecosystems, and widespread deforestation and land degradation.
“Granting this mining license would have severe environmental and socio-economic consequences for Hwange National Park’s Sinamatela and neighboring safari areas. The proposed mining activities would disrupt the tourism industry, undermine the park’s integrity, and threaten its role as a sanctuary for nature and sustainable tourism,” CNRG stated.
The Bumbusi Ruins, a protected archaeological site, risk vandalism, threatening Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage and its reputation as a prime tourist destination.
“Archaeological sites such as the Bumbusi National Ruins, which are vital to Zimbabwe’s cultural heritage and history, risk being vandalized,” reads the statement.
The CNRG has called on the government to take decisive action by reforming the Mines and Minerals Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act to ban mining exploration and other ecologically damaging activities.
“Rather than relying on statements, the government must take decisive action by reforming the Mines and Minerals Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act to prohibit mining exploration and other ecologically harmful activities,” the group emphasized.
The group expressed disappointment over the lack of tangible progress in revoking mining titles within national parks, despite earlier promises to do so.
“While we expected progress on the promised steps to revoke all mining titles within national parks, we are disappointed that no tangible action has been taken thus far,” CNRG said.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between conservationists and mining interests in Zimbabwe. In September 2020, the government banned mining in all national parks and game reserves following public outcry over similar projects. However, critics argue that enforcement remains weak, and mining licenses continue to be granted in protected areas.
In September 2020, the government banned mining activities in all wildlife parks and game reserves in response to pressure from conservationists and environmentalists. CNRG raised similar concerns at that time, and the situation remains unchanged. If coal exploration proceeds at this site, it will transform a pristine environment into an area marked by drilling, land clearing, road construction, and geological surveys.
The CNRG has urged the government to prioritize environmental protection by limiting mining activities that harm Zimbabwe’s ecosystems and natural resources. The group recommends reforming the Mines and Minerals Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act to explicitly prohibit mining exploration and other activities that threaten the environment.
CNRG also calls for the protection of tourism and conservation efforts, advocating for responsible tourism that supports local communities and conservation initiatives rather than allowing mining projects that undermine these sectors. Finally, the organization strongly recommends denying the special mining license application to safeguard the environment and sustainable development.
