17 Sep 2015

The Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMWER) has developed a strategy aimed at curbing illegal river sand mining in Botswana.

The three-pronged strategy, according to MMWER permanent secretary Mr Kgomotso Abi, entails enforcing adherence to regulations by sand mining permit holders, demarcating mining sites for permit holders, and requiring applicants to carry out prospecting to determine quantities of sand before being issued with sand mining permits.

Making submissions before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday (September 16), Mr Abi explained that the strategy will assist to control river sand mining. 

“Illegal sand mining is an issue for the ministry. The ministry will continue to inform the public about its consequences and alternatives to the use of river sand,” he said.

Further, he said the ministry was looking at introducing stiffer penalties on river sand thieves, including confiscating their equipment. 

“We are considering confiscating equipment used by illegal operators to make them realise that illegal sand mining is a serious crime which impacts on the economy,” Mr Abi said.

Another measure taken to control excessive sand mining, according to Mr Abi, was encouraging licensed quarries to manufacture sand using rocks to relieve pressure on the river system.

He said they started a 12 months trial on the use of manufactured sand for plastering buildings last year in December. When asked by PAC chairperson, Mr Abram Kesupile about their sand theft monitoring strategies, Mr Abi said the Department of Mines carry out monitoring on quarterly basis.  He said this is because they have insufficient staff.

The PAC also expressed concerns about companies that fail to rehabilitate the environment after completing sand mining. 

PAC member, MP Samson Guma-Moyo said there are many dangerous burrow pits left by companies in the Francistown area after mining sand. Mr Abi revealed that there are 149 burrow pits not rehabilitated around the country, while 1 012 have been rehabilitated. Ends