37 In an article titled “Mining in Zimbabwe: an Erosion of Trust”, published in The Zimbabwean on May 12, 2011, mining companies are accused of environmental neglect. 161 Reports indicate that many dams in the area “are silting as a result of the indiscriminate activity of alluvial diamond mining companies [and that the] Odzi River is being polluted and silted by the operations of Canadile…” 162 Mutuso Dhliwayo, Director of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), said that “two mining companies in particular, Mbada and Canadile, started mining without carrying out Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as required by the Environmental Management Act”. 163 EIAs are a very important planning tool. They reveal the potential environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts of proposed projects such as mining, and possible mitigation measures. 164 Southern African Resource Watch (SARW) notes that “the environment in Marange is fragile and congested, and the area is very dry with few rivers of any note. Forests have been exploited in recent years, leaving most areas with diminished cover. According to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Andrew Langa, who visited the diamond fields in mid-March 2007: “The environment has been ruined. If we allow panning to continue, the country cannot afford its reclamation … What I have seen is land destruction at its worst. Who will be responsible for filling these shafts? The extent of the plunder is shocking….” 165 The De Beers Group “recognises (the fact) that the living environment is as much a source of shared value as diamonds...” 166 161 The Zimbabwean, ‘Mining in Zim: An erosion of trust’, 12 May 2011: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/39538/mining-in-zim-an-erosion-of-trust.html 162 The Zimbabwean, ‘Mining in Zim: An erosion of trust’, 12 May 2011: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/39538/mining-in-zim-an-erosion-of-trust.html 163 The Zimbabwean, ‘Mining in Zim: An erosion of trust’, 12 May 2011: http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/39538/mining-in-zim-an-erosion-of-trust.html 164 Extractive Industries Policy & Legal Handbook, ‘Analysis of the Key Issues in Zimbabwe’s Mining Sector: Case Study of the Plight of Marange & Mutoko Mining Communities’, January 2011, pg 42: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QkVKYYeExgoJ:www.internaldisplacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpDocuments)/1DD3341690E24DF7C125784E002E708C/%24file/EXT RACTIVE%2BINDUSTRIES%2BHANDBOOK%2B(1).pdf+marange+diamonds+%2Benvironmental+issues&cd=6&hl =en&ct=clnk&gl=ie&source=www.google.ie 165 Southern Africa Resources Watch, ‘Diamonds in Zimbabwe – A Situational Analysis’, May 2007, pg 8 & 9: http://archive.revenuewatch.org/reports/DIamondZimb.pdf 166 De Beers Group Website/Sustainability/Environment Copyright 2008 De Beers Group. http://www.debeersgroup.com/Sustainability/Environment/