HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
government
is
taking
action
to
support
a
more
responsible
artisanal
gold
mining
sector,
launching
a
US$23.7
million
project
to
reduce
mercury
across
mine
sites
in
the
country.
A
toxic
chemical
used
to
extract
gold
from
ore,
mercury
damages
the
lungs,
skin,
and
eyes.
The
chemical
can
travel
far
from
where
it
is
released,
polluting
the
air,
water,
and
soil.
Furthermore,
it
bioaccumulates
up
the
food
chain.
In
Zimbabwe,
more
than
300,000
people
work
in
artisanal
gold
mining,
with
the
sector
contributing
to
more
than
40%
of
the
country’s
mineral
exports.
Across
the
country,
96%
of
artisanal
gold
mine
sites
use
mercury,
with
miners
often
forgoing
protective
equipment
and
risking
exposure
to
toxic
fumes.
Zimbabwe’s
artisanal
gold
mining
activities
result
in
more
than
24
tonnes
of
mercury
being
released
annually.
The
five-year
planetGOLD
Zimbabwe
project
is
financially
supported
by
the
Global
Environment
Facility
(GEF)
and
implemented
by
the
United
Nations
Environment
Programme
(UNEP).
The
project
is
executed
by
the
international
non-profit
organization,
IMPACT,
in
close
coordination
with
the
government
of
Zimbabwe.
The
project
will
work
together
with
local
communities
to
reduce
the
use
of
mercury
in
artisanal
and
small-scale
gold
mining—the
world’s
largest
source
of
anthropogenic
emissions
of
mercury
pollution—
while
improving
the
health
and
lives
of
local
mining
communities.
The
Zimbabwe
project
is
part
of
a
global
programme
implemented
in
25
countries.
The
planetGOLD
Zimbabwe
project
plans
to
support
7,500
men
and
women
at
11
districts
in
Zimbabwe,
reducing
mercury
use
by
4.85
tonnes.
In
addition
to
mercury
reduction,
the
project
aims
to
support
formalization
of
the
artisanal
gold
mining
sector
and
increasing
miner’s
access
to
finance.
This
will
lead
to
the
adoption
of
mercury-free
technologies
and
promote
more
responsible
and
traceable
gold
supply
chains.
The
project
officially
launched
in
November
in
Harare,
with
an
Inception
Workshop
that
brought
together
stakeholders
to
discuss
how
planetGOLD
Zimbabwe
will
support
a
more
responsible
artisanal
gold
sector.
In
a
keynote
speech,
Edward
Samuriwo,
Acting
Permanent
Secretary
of
the
Ministry
of
Environment,
Climate,
and
Wildlife,
outlined
the
project’s
significance
in
addressing
the
challenges
of
mercury
use
in
Zimbabwe’s
gold
mining
sector.
Samuriwo
reaffirmed
Zimbabwe’s
commitment
to
the
Minamata
Convention
on
Mercury
and
emphasized
the
pivotal
role
the
planetGOLD
project
will
play
in
supporting
the
country’s
efforts
to
eliminate
mercury
use
in
artisanal
gold
mining
through
the
implementation
of
Zimbabwe’s
National
Action
Plan.
Zimbabwe
ratified
the
Minamata
Convention
on
Mercury
in
2021.
In
its
National
Action
Plan,
the
country
committed
to
strong
cooperation
among
all
stakeholders
including
government
agencies
and
supply
chain
actors
to
improve
the
health
and
safety
of
communities
involved
in
artisanal
gold
mining.
“Through
the
launch
of
the
planetGOLD
project,
Zimbabwe
moves
towards
more
responsible
artisanal
gold
mining.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
all
stakeholders
to
create
a
sustainable
change
in
the
sector,”
said
Yann
Lebrat,
IMPACT’s
Deputy
Executive
Director.