The Zimbabwe Mining Safety, Health and Environmental Council Trust (ZIMSHEC) has issued a stark warning to the country’s miners, declaring that the industry’s future hinges on a radical shift towards protecting human lives and the environment, as the sector grapples with persistent safety breaches and mounting environmental degradation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Mine Entra 2026 exhibition at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo, ZIMSHEC Executive Director Mr Makumba Nyenje delivered a passionate appeal for miners to abandon outdated and hazardous practices that continue to claim lives and damage the country’s natural heritage.

The annual exhibition, which has drawn thousands of delegates including equipment manufacturers, regulators and policymakers, serves as a critical melting pot for ideas and innovation, according to Nyenje.

He described the gathering as an indispensable platform for reinvigorating an industry that remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy.

Nyenje traced ZIMSHEC’s origins to the mining community itself, revealing that the trust was established by miners who recognised the urgent need for structured training and support in occupational safety, environmental management and regulatory compliance.

The Council has been conducting rigorous training programmes on underground safety protocols, with particular emphasis on the dangers that lurk beneath the surface.

Miners are being drilled on essential procedures including gas detection after blasting operations and testing rock stability before entering potentially unstable workings.

In a chilling warning on occupational health, Mr Nyenje highlighted the silent killer that continues to ravage mining communities.

He urged miners to immediately transition from dry drilling to wet drilling methods, explaining that the practice of dry drilling releases clouds of silica dust that, when inhaled over time, leads to devastating respiratory diseases.

Silicosis and tuberculosis remain the leading occupational killers in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, with many miners dying years after leaving the pits.

The environmental front received equal attention, with Nyenje painting a vivid picture of Zimbabwe’s scarred landscapes.

He passionately argued that mining operations must be conducted with an eye on the future, insisting that companies have a moral and legal obligation to rehabilitate disturbed land.

The concept of “life after mining” must become a reality, he stressed, rather than leaving behind barren wastelands for future generations.

On the legal front, ZIMSHEC is intensifying efforts to educate miners on their obligations under a complex web of legislation including the Environmental Management Act, Water Act, Mines and Minerals Act, Health Services Act and the Pneumoconiosis Act.

Mr Nyenje noted that ignorance of the law is no longer an acceptable excuse, as regulators tighten their grip on non-compliant operators.

Mr Mukumba Nyenje expressed optimism about the equipment and technologies on display at Mine Entra, noting that innovations now cater for miners of all scales from artisanal operators to large-scale commercial mines.

This inclusivity, he said, directly supports Government’s ambitious vision of ensuring no miner is left behind as the country marches towards a safer, more productive and sustainable mining future.

With Zimbabwe’s mining sector poised for exponential growth, ZIMSHEC’s message rings clear: the race to extract mineral wealth must not come at the cost of human lives and environmental ruin.