ZimParks slams Chinese firm’s bid to mine coal in Hwange National Park

HWANGE – A Chinese-owned company, Sunny Yi Feng, has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) after applying for permission to prospect for coal within Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife sanctuary.

The company’s application, published in the Government Gazette on February 14, 2025, specifically targets the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Conservation Zone, a critical habitat for the endangered black rhino.

ZimParks has strongly condemned the application, urging the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to reject it.

In a press statement, ZimParks cited the severe ecological consequences of allowing mining activities within the park.

The authority highlighted the potential for increased species extinction, particularly for the black rhino, which is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendix 1.

“Needless to mention that the proposed mining project will actually increase the risk of species extinction and prospects of population recovery will be negatively affected.

“The proposed mining project poses a significant threat, worsening the degradation of land, a critical concern for ZimParks, which has a mandate to ensure that at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and ecosystems are restored by 2030.

“While we have made substantial progress in reviving wildlife populations across the nation, the introduction of mining activities in this vital area would undermine ecological conditions essential for wildlife survival and reproduction.

“This compromise will hinder our ongoing efforts to maintain and restore healthy populations of wildlife.

“Approving mining in this zone would not only contradict ZimParks’ conservation mandate but also tarnish Zimbabwe’s reputation regionally and internationally as a world leader in sustainable conservation.”

ZimParks also raised concerns about the impact on tourism, a major revenue generator for Zimbabwe, stating that mining operations would negatively affect visitor experiences and disrupt wildlife movement.

The authority further noted that the Sinamatella area is home to the Bumbusi ruins, a site of historical and cultural significance to local communities.

ZimParks pointed out that Hwange National Park hosts Africa’s second-largest elephant population and that mining could interfere with groundwater flow, threatening vital water sources for wildlife and potentially exacerbating human-wildlife conflict.

The authority’s commitment to safeguarding critical wildlife habitats and maintaining Zimbabwe’s reputation as a leader in sustainable conservation.

The authority has called on the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to “cancel the application for an exclusive prospection of mining activities in Hwange National Park, specifically targeting the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone and never to entertain such applications in future.”