Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
PLANS are underway to set up a water processing and purification plant in Hwange for the double purpose of recycling acidic water that is polluting the environment from the coal mines and providing clean water to the town.
Hwange Colliery Company Limited is leading the initiative which will also have a number of stakeholders from Government and the private sector.
HCCL managing director Mr Blake Mhatiwa said a proposal has already been made to Government and about US$30 million is needed for the project which is envisaged to create hundreds of jobs as well as improve water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash) to the dry Hwange town.
Despite being home to the country’s prime tourism destination where purified bottled water is one of the most needed products, Hwange and Victoria Falls have no water processing firms and rely on imports from other towns and outside the country.
Shortage of clean water and heavy pollution from the mines have been a cause for concern in Hwange whose water bodies, air and land are an environment disaster.
There is heavy pollution in Deka River resulting in communities downstream in Chief Wange’s area complaining about death of livestock and aquatic life while around town, heavy smoke and dust on buildings and vegetation has been a cause for concern.
In that regard a silent health disaster is looming due to large volumes of acidic water polluted from chemicals and substances underground in the coal mines, which is finding its way into water bodies.
There are many disused open cast mines and tunnels that have become semi dams around Hwange but the water is unusable even for agriculture because it is acidic.
Hwange Colliery, which has been mining coal for decades has taken the initiative to recycle water and prevent it from spilling into water bodies and the environment.
Mr Mhatiwa said work is underway to set up a committee comprising environmentalists and other key stakeholders to spearhead management of the acidic water, which will be part of the planned processing plant.
He was speaking in Hwange recently.
“One other issue that is of concern is the environment and we need help from Government on this. We have a major problem with acid mine drainage as we know that mining has been going on for hundreds of years and acidic water is now coming out affecting the environment, water sources and aquatic life.
“We were advised to form a committee so that this can be tabled as a national issue.
“Our proposal is to do a water processing and this requires between US$25 million to US$30 million to set up the plant,” said Mr Mhatiwa.
He said the acidic water is coming out in the form of springs and is dangerous to the environment because of gases and chemicals.
EMA Matabeleland North provincial manager Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze said environmental agency was seized with programmes and activities to conserve the environment.
“EMA has ensured that all activities that have a threat to the environment in Hwange are mapped. Major issues identified are related to water and air pollution as well as land degradation,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu-Zuze said EMA is monitoring all air and water pollution sources and data produced is used to raise awareness on the affected communities.
She implored mining companies to ensure that emissions are discharged as per environmental laws and standards.
On water related threats, EMA conducts ambient water monitoring programmes and research on all rivers and natural streams in the district. –-@ncubeleon
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