SMALL-SCALE miners have expressed concern that the proposed ban of mercury in all industrial uses, including gold processing, will undermine the viability of the sector.
REPORT BY TARISAI MANDIZHA
Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that accumulates as methyl mercury in the environment and in the bodies of marine animals.
The substance causes developmental problems and physical deformities in humans and also affects animals’ ability to reproduce.
Last month, government representatives from more than 140 countries, including Zimbabwe, met in Switzerland and agreed to sign a mercury treaty later this year as part of global fight against pollution.
Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-scale for Sustainable Mining Council (ZASMC) president Walter Takavarasha told NewsDay last week that the treaty would affect the operations of more than 500 000 people.
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