Zimbabwe bans coal mining in Hwange and different sport parks

Zimbabwe has banned mining in all its nationwide parks, reversing a choice to let Chinese language corporations probe for coal at its well-known Hwange sport park.

The transfer got here after campaigners instituted court docket motion in opposition to the federal government to forestall “ecological degradation” in parks.

Two Chinese language-owned corporations had been given a licence to probe for coal in Hwange Nationwide Park.

It’s well-known for its elephants and the endangered black rhino.

In court docket papers filed on Monday, the Zimbabwe Environmental Legal professionals Affiliation (ZELA) warned that the park would flip right into a “website for drilling, land clearance, street constructing and geological surveys” if coal exploration went forward.

Following a cupboard assembly on Tuesday, Info Minister Monica Mutsvangwa introduced the ban on mining with instant impact.

“Steps are being undertaken to instantly cancel all mining titles held in nationwide parks,” she added.

That is even though China is a serious investor in Zimbabwe, and an in depth ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s authorities.

However its resolution to provide exploration rights within the park led to a public outcry, and the hashtag #SaveHwangenationalpark trended on Twitter in Zimbabwe, reviews the BBC’s Shingai Nyoka from the capital, Harare.