City of Masvingo (Mining and Mineral Panning) By-laws, 2025

These by-laws bring mining inside the City of Masvingo under council oversight. Every holder of prospecting, exploration or mining rights operating in the area must lodge certified copies of their licences with the council, together with the Environmental Impact Assessment report, environmental management plan or EIA certificate issued by EMA, and must carry out mine closure and rehabilitation measures under the Environmental Management Act. The Mines and Minerals Act provisions on mining rights, compensation for land acquired for mining and levies payable to local authorities apply in the council area with necessary changes. No mineral may be panned without a licence from the Ministry of Mines.

Project developers requiring an environmental social impact assessment must apply to the council with a fee, consult it during the assessment process, and lodge the report before starting operations. The by-laws also establish an Environmental Reclamation Fund, allow the council to carry out rehabilitation works itself, address corporate social responsibility, and provide for inspection of mining activities.

Alluvial gold operations must be confined to the bed of a public stream, conducted at least three metres from the lowest point of the naturally defined banks without disturbing them — a distance the inspector of mines may increase for safety — and mined areas must be backfilled as work progresses. Workings may not exceed 1,5 metres of vertical depth unless terraced, sloped or supported; undercutting is prohibited; and mechanical equipment may not be used in a stream bed without a permit from an inspector of mines issued in consultation with the provincial natural resources officer and the council. Claims must be fenced against animals, shafts timbered against collapse, and a permit obtained before moving ore on council roads. An elution plant requires a permit.

Fees include US$50 each for EIA consultation and inspection of EIA reports, and an environmental rehabilitation levy of US$2 000 for most categories — medium and large scale gold mining, milling permits, alluvial and base mineral mining, non-producing claims, cyanidation companies and individuals — with artisanal Class A at US$200 and a rehabilitation fund levy of US$200. The council land development levies are printed as nil across all categories.

Penalties are US$200 for panning without a council permit, US$50 for failing to submit licences or EIA documents, and US$1 000 each for failing to reclaim disused mines and for failing to rehabilitate after abandonment or closure.