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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has approved by-laws made by Pfura Rural District Council in Mashonaland Central Province banning the extraction of gravel, stones, river or pit sand without the local authority’s approval.

The by-laws are contained in Statutory Instrument 103 of 2019 published in last Friday’s Government Gazette.

The by-laws were approved by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo in terms of Section 90 (4) of the Rural District Councils Act.

According to Section 3 (1) of the SI: “Every person who intends to extract gravel, stones, river or pit sand shall inform council, (2) council shall identify designated sites for the extraction of gravel, stones, river or pit sand in the council area.”

The SI also says anyone wishing to extract the above gravel, stones, river or pit sand must also be licensed by the Environmental Management Authority before the council grants them permits.

“A permit shall be issued for any period not exceeding one year and shall not withstanding the date of issue, expire on the 31st of December of the year of issue,” reads part of the SI.

The council also banned the moulding of bricks in the council area without a permit.

“In the event that any person intends to mould bricks, he or she shall demonstrate to council that he or she is capable of taking the following measures before he or she is granted permission; (a) rehabilitate the area or pit created by his or her activities (b) use deadwood for burning the bricks and if this is not available ensure that they only cut branches of trees and not the whole tree (c) in the event that compliance with paragraph (b) is not possible, demonstrate that he or she is capable of carrying out reforestation projects in the area where trees have been cut,” reads part of the SI.

The SI also said council would set aside land for extraction purposes, while selling would be done at sites set aside by council.

The fees for the permits and renewal of permit to extract gravel, stones, river or pit sand or brick moulding have been set at $150, while the replacement fee is $50.

Any person who contravenes the by-laws set out in the SI would be guilty of a crime and would be fined or imprisoned or both.