D. Bhebhe - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences - University ...

Working in the dry season (120 working days) this translates to between 883 and 4.667 full
time labourers. At an average wage of Z$200 per month (or Z$ 1 200 for six months) these
replacement costs range from Z$1.1 million to Z$560 million (Rea, 1994).
With twice the number of panners, the estimated cost of moving the material would double to
between Z$2.2 million and $11.2 million for one year.
These costs only include labour for moving material out of the river and distributing it. Other
costs for a more complete rehabilitation programme would be incurred for example, to rebuild
riverbanks, protect high-risk banks with rocks, and terrace slopes and plant vetiver grass and
trees. If carried out by social crew, this additional activity could cost an estimated $10 per
meter of river length, with both sides of the river being treated at an average height of 2
meters. The cost is based on two men working at Z$10.00 per day/man, plus additional costs
for vetiver grass, equipment such as wheelbarrows and shovels and general overheads. For
every kilometer of river rehabilitated, the cost could be in the range of $10 000.
Given the significance of gold panning in the province and the large number of rivers being
damaged, the cost of follow-up rehabilitation would be enormous, even with this simple,
labour intensive method. For example, using the conservative figure of 500 km of rivers in
the province, the cost of full restoration is $0.5 million. With a more realistic figure of 1
000km of rivers and tributaries in the province under siege at various times of the year, the
cost could be $10.0 million. These costs are order of magnitude estimates only. To be
consistent with assumptions about the number of panners, we can assign costs of $5.0 million
for the estimate of 2.000 panners and $10.0 million for 4.000 panners.
Other estimation methods for siltation could be used if better data were available. For
example, the lost income from lower crop yields due to reduced irrigation water supplies
(effect on production approach) or the cost of dragging dams for building new dams
(replacement cost) could be used (Belli, 1989).
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