Illegal gold miners in Penhalonga have disrupted the government-backed Presidential Riverine Ecosystems Rehabilitation Programme, forcing the suspension of environmental restoration works along sections of the Mutare River in Mutasa District.
Authorities said groups of illegal alluvial miners invaded active rehabilitation sites and interfered with ongoing desilting operations, preventing contractors from carrying out planned river restoration activities.
The disturbances reportedly affected works being undertaken by Nubia Investments, a contractor engaged to rehabilitate degraded river channels and stabilize riverbanks.
The company was forced to temporarily withdraw personnel and equipment after miners allegedly threatened workers and resumed digging activities in areas that had already undergone restoration.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) condemned the disruptions, describing them as a setback to efforts aimed at restoring damaged river ecosystems and protecting water resources.
Officials said illegal mining activity has reversed some of the gains achieved through desilting and rehabilitation efforts by reintroducing sediment into the river system and increasing environmental degradation.
In response, police in Manicaland have launched operations to clear illegal miners from the affected areas and secure rehabilitation sites. Authorities warned that individuals found obstructing government-approved environmental projects would face arrest and prosecution under relevant environmental and mining laws.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing Zimbabwe’s ban on riverbed and alluvial mining, particularly in gold-rich areas where illegal mining continues to threaten waterways, ecosystems and surrounding communities. 
