Mashala villagers lose aquatic life, livestock to pollution
Sibongile Dube
Villagers in Mashala, Hwange have raised concerns over the pollution of water sources leading to loss of livelihoods.
The villagers claim that they have lost their livestock which were drinking from contaminated water from the Deka River. The fish which sustained them are also reportedly dying due to the contaminated water.
Coal dust settling on the surface water environment, leaching and toxic drainage of particulates as well as acid drainage mining from the previous mining activities are the chief causes of water pollution in the area.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance engagement meeting with stakeholders and villagers held at the Hwange District Development Coordinator Conference room, the villagers questioned the lack of mitigation measures on water pollution on the part of miners in the area.
The villagers noted that Deka River has sustained them but the advent of mining activities is destroying the river.
TWard 8 Councilor, Theresa Mutara said the community of Mashala needs to be compensated by the mining entities.
“The miners should compensate the villagers through provision of income generating projects because these villagers have lost their livelihood due to the mining entities. They used to get food, fish from this water body but now it is a thing of the past,” she said.
Smart Ndlovu from Mashala ward blamed the Veterinary Services for not responding promptly whenever their livestock die from drinking contaminated water.
“A number of villagers have lost their cattle. We have reported the matter to the Environmental Management Agency and Veterinary services but nothing is being done about it,” he said.
Though some companies claim that they have built alkalization dams within their mining systems, there is overwhelming evidence that the discharge is still finding its way to some water bodies.
Hwange coal entities include Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), Makomo Resources, Garlpex, South Mining and other emerging coke production companies who are also culprits in water pollution.
Dr Lovemore Dube the Hwange District Veterinary Officer said the department is investigating cases of animal death linked to water pollution
“We have received the reports but we work with people on the ground who pick up diseases linked to deaths of animals. I can only confirm some of the causes of animal deaths after samples have been taken to the laboratory for testing,” he said
The Hwange District Environmental Officer, Nothani Ndlovu pointed out that water pollution is likely caused by abandoned underground mining activities which were done in previous years.
“The Acid mine drainage (AMD) from the mining activities in the area affects aquatic life although it is not proven that it is a danger to livestock,” he said.
Meanwhile Reverend Useni Sibanda the Executive Director of Zimbabwe Christian Alliance said there is need for dialogue between the Hwange community and the miners in the district.
“There is need for a dialogue, and the local pastors need to create a monitoring system because villagers are saying they have reported the matter to the vet, but the VET is saying there have not received the information.
There is a communication gap as reports from EMA show that there is pollution coming from the mining activities both historically and current mining therefore more boreholes should be drilled to give communities and livestock fresh water,” said Rev. Sibanda.
Hwange Colliery Company (HCCL) Safety Health Officer Butholezwe Dube said the company has drilled boreholes in Kasase Chachachunda villages to provide communities with fresher water.
