Zimbabwe Orders South African Companies to Stop Mining
December 15, 09 by Edon Ophir
Zimbabwe has ordered two South African mining companies to cease operations in its eastern Marange diamond fields, according to the Harare-based newspaper The Sunday Mail.
The two companies, Canadile Miners and Mbada Diamond Mining, allegedly did not secure clearance from Zimbabwe’s Environment Management Authority (EMA) before they began their mining operations. Although awarded contracts to mine the field in November, the two firms have apparently not filed the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports necessary to begin mining.
Mbada and Canadile have been issued “Order 115,” which states they will not able to operate in the Zimbabwe’s Marange region until they secure a complete EIA report.
The eastern-Zimbabwe diamond field has been the subject of much scrutiny as allegations of government-sanctioned mining and smuggling in the region have increased in recent years. In July, a Kimberley Process (KP) review mission cited such allegations, in addition to widespread human rights abuses committed by the Zimbabwe military, who are there under the premise of protecting of the field from illegal mining.
