Mining in Madimbo Corridor to be Reviewed. (25 October, 1996)

Cape Town - The decision taken by the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs to dismiss an appeal by the National Parks Board to prevent diamond prospecting in the Madimbo Corridor would be reviewed, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Peter Mokaba, said yesterday. 'This has been decided today after consultations between myself and the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Penuell Maduna,' Mokaba said. His ministry wanted to ensure that sustainable development plans and decisions were taken regarding the Madimbo Corridor, and that proper mechanisms of transparency and consultation with all the stakeholders were put into place.

He had held discussions with Maduna to request the suspension of the decision 'until a thorough strategic environmental assessment and studies to determine the best land-use options in the area had been carried out.' 'It has been agreed that mining in the Madimbo Corridor cannot proceed in the light of the ecological sensitivity of the corridor; land claims in the area; proposals for developing ecotourism peace parks; and the procedures by which the Moonstone Company obtained a mining permit,' Mokaba said.

Black communities were in the past forcibly removed from the corridor, an 80 km strip along the banks of the Limpopo River bordering Zimbabwe. Sapa. Courtesy of The Star.