By Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has launched an accelerated environmental compliance enforcement blitz across Masvingo Province, responding to a surge in environmental crimes and poor environmental practices.
In an interview with TellZim News, EMA Masvingo Provincial Enviromental Education and Publicity Officer Munyaradzi Mutisi revealed that the agency conducted 901 environmental inspections during the month of October alone, targeting various sectors including mining operations, local authorities, schools, hospitals, and hospitality establishments.
“We have intensified our surveillance to assess compliance levels, enforce corrective measures, and engage various stakeholders about their environmental responsibilities.
“The major environmental breaches we’ve identified are in mining operations, LP gas storage and sales, and solid and effluent disposal by various institutions,” said Mutisi.
The blitz operation focused on critical areas including air emissions, effluent water disposal, invasive species management, sand extraction and transportation, solid waste disposal, and compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment provisions.
Mutisi told TellZim News that the enforcement drive yielded significant results, with 110 environmental protection orders and 278 environmental penalties issued to operators violating regulations under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and its associated statutory instruments.
“Some of the critical orders involved rehabilitation of sewage ponds by local authorities, rehabilitation of disused mined-out pits, and stopping all mining activities being conducted without valid environmental impact assessment licenses,” said Mutisi.
He emphasized that the agency’s approach combines enforcement with education and capacity building and during the operation, the agency held 352 meetings and capacity-building sessions with all nine local authorities, miners, the business community, and various industry leaders.
“These sessions were designed to enhance understanding of environmental laws and promote voluntary compliance, fostering a culture of shared responsibility,” he said.
On rehabilitation efforts, Mutisi said 48.09 hectares of mined out areas were rehabilitated across the province in 2025, with an additional 33.08 hectares of mined-out pits and degraded areas ordered for rehabilitation during the blitz operation.
“These interventions are expected to contribute significantly to ecosystem recovery, enhancing community well-being,” he said.
The accelerated surveillance program demonstrates EMA’s commitment to championing the protection and sustainable management of Zimbabwe’s natural resources through a balanced approach of enforcement and education, crucial for achieving long-term environmental sustainability in the province.
