By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwe’s Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, has firmly rejected a proposal to conduct coal mining within Hwange National Park, citing the availability of alternative coal-rich areas in the country.
The controversy arose after the Chinese company, Sunny Yi Feng, submitted an application for an Exclusive Prospecting Order targeting the Sinamatella area within the national park, which is renowned for its wildlife and ecological significance.
Addressing an induction workshop for members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Mudenda emphasized the need to protect national parks from mining activities.
“I will not support mining in national parks. The area identified for mining is not the only place where coal can be found,” he stated.
He pointed out viable alternative locations, including coal deposits in the southern part of Binga, and encouraged exploration of these areas.
“Why disturb the delicate ecology of the animals there?” he questioned.
The proposal has also faced criticism from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
The authority has urged the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel the application for exclusive prospecting rights in Hwange National Park, particularly emphasizing the impact on the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone.