Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has issued environmental protection orders to Sabi Star and Gwanda Lithium Mines in Buhera, Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces resepectiovely, for excessive fugitive dust emission caused particularly by the movement of heavy trucks along roads within production sites.
In a statement on Tuesday, EMA environmental education and publicity manager Amkela Sidange said the agency was concerned about increasing dust pollution from mining operations, warning that some companies had failed to address the problem despite previous warnings and directives.
“As of October 23, 2026, EMA has already issued environmental protection orders to two mines,” she said.
She said the two mines were required to stop transporting along designated routes until they submitted dust management plans to EMA for approval and implemented them to its satisfaction.
Sidange urged communities living near the affected mines to report any truck movements that violate the orders, saying public cooperation was crucial in enforcing environmental regulations.
“Protecting the environment is everybody’s responsibility. It is a shared responsibility and we need to all agree that development must not come at the expense of environmental integrity or public health,” she said.
She said EMA had embarked on a nationwide enforcement programme to address fugitive dust pollution from mining activities.
Fugitive dust, which consists of airborne particles generated by activities such as vehicle movement on unpaved roads and mineral handling, can affect air quality, human health and the surrounding environment if not properly controlled.
The agency’s action highlights the need for mining companies to adopt effective dust suppression measures while ensuring that mineral production and transportation do not compromise the well-being of nearby communities.
New Ziana
