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Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Zvataida Rural District Council (Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation) By-laws, 2025

Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Zvataida council makes its own environmental by-laws — EIA papers before any project starts, rehabilitation plans before mining closes, fire protection by 31 July and clearance of invasive species.

These by-laws set out the Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe Zvataida Rural District Council's environmental regime, following the pattern adopted by several councils in 2025: a local environment action plan and its amendment, grazing and cultivation areas, conservation of natural resources, waste management sites, environmental impact assessments, rehabilitation on abandonment of a project, environmental works by the council, burning of vegetation and fire prevention, invasive alien species, protection of wetlands, an environment committee and sub-committee, sleighs and farming implements, cutting of trees, forest produce, extraction of gravel, stone, river and pit sand, brick making, protection of water sources, biodiversity, timber logging, wildlife and indigenous plants, air pollution, waste management and landfills.

Project developers must lodge EIA documents with the council before starting operations, and anyone exploiting natural resources commercially — mining and extraction included — must lodge a rehabilitation plan and rehabilitate before abandonment or closure, with the council monitoring implementation alongside EMA and able to carry out the works itself and recover the cost from the owner or occupier.

Fire control follows the standard scheme: notice of intention to burn to the council, traditional leaders, the environmental sub-committee, EMA, the Forestry Commission, neighbours or the police under section 67 of the Forestry Act; fire protection measures in place before 31 July each year; a duty to put out fires on one's own land and to help extinguish any fire nearby. Land must be kept free of invasive alien species, which the council may order cleared or clear itself at the owner's cost.

The extract available here was truncated before the schedules, so the fee and penalty amounts should be read in the instrument itself.

What changed

  • Project developers must lodge EIA documents with the council before starting operations
  • Rehabilitation plans are required before commercial resource extraction and the site rehabilitated before closure
  • The council may carry out environmental works and recover the cost from the owner or occupier
  • Notice of intention to burn vegetation, and fire protection measures before 31 July each year
  • Land must be kept free of invasive alien species, with the council able to clear at the owner's cost

Who this affects

  • Land owners and occupiers in the UMP Zvataida district
  • Miners and resource extraction projects
  • Farmers burning vegetation or clearing land
  • Brick makers, sand and gravel extractors
  • Council environment committees and EMA

Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.