BULAWAYO, OCT 14 (SOUTHERN EYE LIVE): PLUMTREE Town Council has banned the use of illegally extracted sand and stone aggregates at civil works sites starting October 16, warning that offenders risk having their materials confiscated and being fined as authorities move to curb environmental degradation.
In a public notice dated October 13, town secretary Thembalami Nyoni said the ban covered natural stone, pit sand, gravel filler and river sand extracted from undesignated sites or without valid permits.
The directive was adopted under Resolution 346/2026 at the council’s ordinary full council meeting held on September 1.
“Council has noted with concern the rampant environmental degradation caused by the extraction of natural aggregates, in particular natural stone/sand,” Nyoni said.
The restrictions require extractors and transporters of natural aggregates to obtain permits from the local authority before accessing approved sites.
“All aggregates used for civil works shall require receipts from accredited suppliers and have proof that the aggregates have been collected from designated sites,” the notice reads.
Council said the decision followed an assessment of the availability of suitable aggregates from reputable local suppliers and was intended to promote orderly development while preserving Plumtree’s character and visual amenity.
The measures also prohibit the extraction of pit sand, gravel filler and river sand from undesignated sites or without valid local authority and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) permits.
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“Aggregates acquired from non-licensed suppliers or from undesignated sites will be confiscated by Council, including issuance of fines/penalties to offenders,” the notice states.
The restrictions place an obligation on contractors and other people undertaking civil works in the border town to verify the source of their construction materials and retain receipts as proof of purchase from accredited suppliers.
Sand, gravel and stone aggregates are widely used in building construction, roadworks and other civil engineering projects. Their extraction from unapproved sites can damage land and natural resources, prompting environmental authorities to regulate where and how such materials are obtained.
Council said the directive was in line with the Plumtree Town environment and natural conservation by-laws, cited in the notice as Statutory Instrument 102 of 2015, and the Environmental Management (Environmental Liability—Polluter Pays) Regulations of 2026.
The polluter-pays principle provides for those responsible for environmental damage to bear the applicable costs associated with that damage.
Council warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract penalties under its by-laws and applicable statutory regulations.
