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Herald Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency yesterday stopped operations at Ayerum Gold Mine owned by the Zimbabwe Youth Development Trust president Mr Aaron Mupandawana in Goromonzi after it was discovered that it was disposing cyanide and mercury into a river.
EMA director general Mrs Mutsa Chasi served Mr Mupandawana with the order of stopping operations.
Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said the miner disregarded the law by mining along a stream which feeds into three nearby dams.

“Nationally we do not allow stream bank mining and it is clear we cannot allow people to destroy the environment to that extent.
“We are not disempowering them as the youths but they should not disregard the law and abuse the EMA licence.

“EMA gave them a licence and they refused to respect the law of the country by way of signing the ticket that was issued to them,” he said.
Environment, Water and Climate deputy Minister Simon Musanhu, said they received complaints from farmers in the area.

“We received complaints from farmers and the local MP and we had to act. The operators had been issued with an order in April and they have been carrying on with their operations without paying a US$1 000 fine issued to them.

“One has to be empowered within the laws of the country and not harm the economic wellness of those downstream,” he said. Mr Mupandawana accused farmer and Zinwa provincial chairman Mr Wellington Nkatazo, of sabotaging him due to his interests in the business venture.

“We came through EMA with a certificate and we are surprised on where we did not comply.
“We are willing to negotiate and had attracted investors from outside the country to employ more than 200 youths but they are stopping us.

“More than a million dollars was invested and we operated for only three months. How can we create jobs if we are being ordered to stop operations?” said Mr Nkatazo.