Villagers concerned by dust menace
By Nkosana Sikhosana
Villagers from Nkwalini Line in Sipepa have raised concern over the level of dust raised by trucks carrying sand from Sipepa Business Centre to the powerline project fearing that they risk contracting or exacerbating respiratory diseases from the dust.
It is alleged that the trucks carry the sand everyday from dusk to dawn to the power line project which is being constructed from Hwange to Bulawayo.
One of the villagers, Sibongile Jele, said the community were failing to go about their day to day duties because of the dust.
“We are tired of the dust caused by these trucks everyday, from dusk to dawn. One cannot even clean their house because soon after cleaning the whole house regathers dust.
Moreover, the potential effects of the dust is not the only concern as schools open, children are at risk of being runover by the speeding trucks.
“We fear for our school-going children as schools open because the truck drivers use dangerous speeds. We are really worried and we do not know how our children will go to school”, said Jele.
Jele also said that they had reported the matter but not much can be done as the drivers of the trucks would only be doing their job. She added that community members should be tested for Tuberculosis for free as they fear the dust may cause them to fall sick.
“Reporting the trucks is not the solution because these people are only trying to a do their jobs and earn a living, what we want is for the community to be allowed in to hospitals to be tested for TB for free because this dust is not good at all who knows what damage it is doing to us now?”
