adminConrad Mupesa in Mhangura
Villagers in Kapako District in Mhangura are up in arms with mining companies operating in the area for causing damage to the environment. In an interview recently, Councillor Lameck Ncube said Chinese officials operating Detroop Mine under Jiangxi Risheng Mining Company — a gold mine in Ward 5 of Makonde District – were not giving back to communities affected by their activities.
The company, he said, was reluctant to maintain roads and bridges destroyed by mining activities.
“We have approached the Chinese miners over the issue on several occasions, but it seems as if they are thick-headed,” he said.
“They haven’t done anything. They are exploiting our resources and at the end, we are benefiting nothing.”
Cllr Ncube said the miners were polluting Angwa River with cyanide, which was not only affecting the environment, but poisoning livestock as well.
“Cyanide poisoning is of great concern in our area as effluent with cyanide coming from the mine infiltrates Angwa River, which is our main source of water for our livestock,” he said.
“After numerous engagements with the foreigners, nothing has been done to normalise the situation.”
An official from the mine, who chose to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the Press, denied the allegations, saying it was in fact artisanal miners that were responsible for the mess.
“A lot of villagers around here are gold panners and they use mercury in their activities,” said the official.
Kapako Village head Mr Ponziano Tahwasha said apart from the Chinese officials, there were other miners operating in the area using hazardous chemicals.
“One villager lost two beasts in October last year after effluent infiltrated with cyanide contaminated a water body used for livestock,” Mr Tahwasha said.
The villagers are now calling for miners to contribute to the well-being of the communities.
Mhangura legislator Cde Douglas Mombeshora shot down the villagers’ demands at a recent meeting in the mining town.
He urged them to approach the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) instead.
EMA provincial spokesperson Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa said he needed to gather facts on the issue before commenting.
In 2016, a joint operation was conducted by Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), Makonde Rural District Council, police, Fidelity Printers and Refiners, and Ministry of Mines to bring an end to the pollution of Angwa River, especially by Detroop Mine.
Online Reporter