Chronicle EditorLeonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
FISH are reportedly dying due to suspected poisoning in the polluted Deka River in Hwange.
The affected areas are Mwemba, Zwabo and Simangani where the river passes through in Chief Whange area.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Matabeleland North manager Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze confirmed the fish deaths but said initial investigations pointed to natural poisoning from sulphur.
EMA was called in last week after villagers spotted dead fish floating in the polluted river which flows into Zambezi River from west of Hwange town.
“Our officers went to investigate following allegations that the poisoning was due to mining activities.They discovered that the mines that people are talking about are not operating hence the particular pollution points to geology of the area after sulphur was found. So far what we have gathered is that this was a result of the onset of the rains,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu-Zuze said the colour of the water had changed and fish were struggling to breathe hence the deaths.
She said samples of some of the dead fish were taken for further investigations.
Locals said similar deaths occurred in the 1950s and 2005.
Mrs Mpofu-Zuze said dead fish were spotted downstream up to Zwabo-Makuyu area.
Villagers have however, blamed the deaths of fish on pollution from surrounding mines which they said discharge effluent into the river.
Recently villagers complained about deaths of livestock after drinking water from the same river.
Last week different social media platforms were awash with messages dissuading villagers from buying fish from traders following unconfirmed reports
that some were harvesting poisoned fish and selling them.—@ncubeleon
derick.khumalo