Cabinet creates task force against illegal mining

Cabinet approved the establishment of a national Task Force to combat illegal mining on Tuesday, responding to escalating damage from unregulated extraction. The decision came after Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe presented findings on the impact of illegal mining in Bindura, revealing extensive environmental damage. The task force will address damage caused by illegal mining operations across the country, coordinating enforcement across multiple government agencies including law enforcement, environmental protection, and local authorities. The task force aims to restore order, protect state revenues, and support local authorities, while the government moves to tighten controls against unregulated extraction, targeting illegal gold panning and sand mining that have caused severe environmental degradation, significant revenue losses, and unsafe working conditions. The approval signals a centralized response to a problem that has outpaced local enforcement capacity, threatens national economic interests, and endangers communities and the environment across the nation.