Harare, March 6, 2025 – The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has strongly opposed an application by Sunny Yi Feng (Private) Limited to prospect for coal in the Sinamatella area of Hwange National Park, citing severe environmental and conservation risks.
The application, published under General Notice 82 of 2025, seeks an exclusive prospecting order over approximately 16,120 hectares in Matabeleland North’s mining district, near Sinamatella Camp. However, ZimParks argues that allowing mining activities in this zone would threaten critical wildlife habitats, particularly for endangered black rhinos.
“This area is a critical habitat for black rhinos and currently supports a growing population of this endangered species, which is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix 1,” ZimParks stated. “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 warns that the proposed mining project could accelerate land degradation, disrupt vital ecological conditions for wildlife survival, and increase poaching threats. The agency has a mandate to restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, a goal that it says would be compromised by mining in a protected zone.
The Sinamatella area is also home to the Bumbusi ruins, which hold historical and cultural significance for Nambian-speaking communities, with traditional leaders visiting the site annually for cultural rituals.
Hwange National Park, which boasts Africa’s second-largest elephant population, also faces risks from mining operations. ZimParks warns that mining could interfere with groundwater flow, exacerbating existing water shortages and leading to increased mortality rates among wildlife.
Tourism, a major revenue generator for Zimbabwe, could also be negatively impacted. ZimParks relies on revenue from leased concessions to sustain conservation efforts, and disruptions from mining—such as noise, air pollution, and habitat destruction—could deter visitors.
ZimParks has urged the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to reject the application and permanently protect the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone from any future mining activities.
