adminIn an interview yesterday, Chief Mapanzure said the girl, Asah Mpofu, who was doing Grade Six at Mapanzure Primary School drowned in a huge pit while coming from school on Tuesday afternoon.
He said Zimasco, which has chrome mining claims in his area is leaving gullies and pits uncovered.
The chief said most of the pits have now become death traps as they were filled with water following the rains that fell in the area.
Chief Mapanzure said he would soon summon to his court the company to press charges against the mine following the tragic incident.
“We are still mourning the girl following this disturbing incident and soon after the burial I will issue summons for the company to appear at my court because they have failed to act responsibly. They have been leaving gullies all over the area uncovered and this has become a constant threat to both human and livestock,” he said.
Chief Mapanzure said he has since met the parents of the girl who have threatened to go and dump the girl’s body at Zimasco offices in Shurugwi.
“I have since spoken to the girl’s parents and calmed them but we are not happy with this kind of negligence which is being exhibited by our local mine. It’s not the first time this has happened, we have people who are now disabled in the area after they fell into these pits and broke their legs. We have also lost a number of livestock in these gullies, but still the mine is not doing anything to rehabilitate the mining area,” he said.
The chief said he would also approach the police for advice.
“According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) regulations, the mine should conduct a rehabilitation process to the environment they are operating under but Zimasco is not complying. This is a criminal mining activity and I will approach the police to seek advice on how best to deal with this kind of mining,” he said.
Zimasco general manager (marketing and administration) Mrs Clara Sadomba had not responded to questions e-mailed to her office by the time of going to print.
Online Reporter