ZESA Holdings subsidiary Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has donated 42 tonnes of coal ash to the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) for the purposes of covering open pits in the city’s jurisdiction.
This is revealed in the latest BCC report on environmental issues.
The minutes state that the pits in Parklands near Fairview Primary School that were opened have already been covered by the works department.
‘The Zimbabwe Power Company donated 42 tons of coal ash for covering the pits with the works department ferrying the coal ash to the site. The donation went a long way to assisting in solving the illegal operations,” the minutes read.
“A letter of appreciation has since been written in terms of the donation policy. A total of 52 surveillance patrols were conducted in Greater Bulawayo.”
BCC indicated that on sale of pitsand at two sites, 25 trucks collected sand from both council pit sand extraction sites, with US$340 realised as revenue.
“A total of 244 trucks had been recorded from January to August 2025,” the minutes read.
The council also indicated that it faced challenges in dealing with animal control in the city.
- Groups want Chinese penalised
- Belgian king, in shadow of colonial past, to visit DR Congo
- Chamisa party defiant after ban
- Gwanda accident victim seeks justice
Keep Reading
“Donkeys were a menace in the city, especially in suburbs such as Cowdray Park, Pumula, Magwegwe North and other suburbs which were close to peri-urban areas,” the minutes read.
“Lands inspectorate was highly incapacitated to clear these donkeys around the suburbs and peri urban areas due to transport challenges, considering that rangers utility vehicle (803) was still detained at top workshop.”
On degradation in water catchment areas, the council indicated that joint patrols were conducted throughout the catchment areas.
It noted that during these patrols, five illegal gold panners were apprehended and handed over to Esigodini police.
“This meant that 54 illegal gold panners were arrested from January to August 2025.
“A total of 64 hand tools were confiscated, bringing the number to 1 378 from January to date.
“Items include one detector machine and a water pump. The items were handed over to Esigodini police as exhibits.
“Surveillance patrols conducted during the period under review were 74, bringing the total to 874 from January to date.”
On Greater Bulawayo illegal mining, sand poaching and wood harvesting, the council noted that joint, extended and blitz patrols were conducted, and during these patrols, eight trucks were impounded for extracting sand.
“A total of 45 tickets were issued for various offences. Out of those tickets, 38 had been paid and a sum of US$2 878,32 was realised. A balance of seven with a value of US$604,65 were still yet to be paid,” the minutes read.
“In addition, during these patrols, three scotch carts were also impounded.
“There was a new invasion by gold panners in Parklands near Fairview Primary School.
“Surveillance patrols and monitoring were being conducted, where sporadic overnight raids were being conducted.”
