The initiative targets 7,500 artisanal gold miners and will span five years for 24 million USD. In Zimbabwe, around 96% of artisanal gold mining sites use mercury, and miners work without protective equipment. The mercury used in gold extraction significantly pollutes the air, water, and soil, thus deteriorating food chains.
Objective : More responsible artisanal gold sector
Thousands of artisanal gold miners in Zimbabwe are expected to benefit from a 23.7 million USD initiative. This aid aims to significantly reduce the use of mercury, a toxic element, in mineral extraction across the country. The government-supported project seeks to align the country with the standards of a responsible mining industry at a time when buyers worldwide champion ethical mineral sourcing.
The initiative was launched in mid-November in the capital Harare with a kickoff workshop inviting stakeholders to discuss how planetGOLD Zimbabwe will support a more responsible artisanal gold sector. Mr. Edward Samuriwo, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, emphasized the importance of the project in addressing the growing concerns and challenges related to mercury use in Zimbabwe’s gold mining industry.
The Acting Permanent Secretary reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, highlighting the central role that the planetGOLD project will play in supporting the country’s efforts to eliminate mercury use in artisanal gold mining through the implementation of Zimbabwe’s National Action Plan.
Danger of mercury in the gold extraction value chain
Mercury is a toxic element often used in gold extraction from ore. It frequently exposes miners to lung, skin, and eye infections that can be fatal. Research indicates that mercury used in gold extraction pollutes not only the air, water, and soil but also accumulates in the food chain over time.
Across the country, more than 300,000 people work in artisanal gold mining, which contributes over 40 % of the country’s mineral exports. Around 96 % of artisanal gold mining sites in Zimbabwe use mercury, and miners often work without protective equipment, exposing them to direct contact with toxic fumes.
Last year, around 237 people lost their lives in Zimbabwe’s dangerous artisanal mines, an increase from the 139 deaths reported the previous year. Estimates suggest that artisanal gold mining in Zimbabwe produces around 24 tonnes of mercury, which is released into the environment annually. This scenario continues to endanger the lives of millions of people, further burdening the country’s already struggling healthcare sector.
The five-year planetGOLD Zimbabwe project will be financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Zimbabwe project is part of a global program currently being implemented in 25 countries.
Formalizing artisanal gold mines
The planetGOLD Zimbabwe project is designed to support the formalization of artisanal gold mining and increase miners’ access to financing in the country. As a result, this approach leads to the adoption of mercury-free technologies and promotes more responsible and traceable gold supply chains.
Zimbabwe ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2021. In its national action plan, the country committed to close cooperation among all stakeholders, particularly government agencies and supply chain actors, to improve the health and safety of communities involved in artisanal gold mining.
With the launch of the planetGOLD project, Zimbabwe is moving towards a more responsible artisanal gold mining sector.
How mercury exposure affects humans ?
According to the WHO, mercury is toxic to human health and poses a major threat to children’s growth and development, including during pregnancy. The WHO notes that mercury’s health effects are numerous, ranging from kidney and nervous system damage to skin health problems. Inorganic mercury salts are corrosive to the skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract and can induce renal toxicity if ingested.
Health experts indicate that neurological and behavioral disorders can be observed in individuals following inhalation, ingestion, or skin exposure to different mercury compounds. The WHO lists symptoms such as tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches, and cognitive and motor dysfunction.
At the same time, mild and subclinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be observed in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air of 20 μg/m3 or more for several years, according to the WHO.
