SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
The menace of incessant contamination of water and air from illegal gold panning activities along the Mutare River has irked residents of Tsingwe in Penhalonga, Mutasa district of Manicaland Province, located about 20km north of Mutare.
The situation has been exacerbated by young local girls and women who have turned to prostitution to eke out a living in this difficult economic environment.
The area has also seen the influx of sex workers from far and wide across the country who have descended on the once flourishing Redwing Mine zone for rich pickings which has attracted many into one of the world’s oldest professions.
Prostitution in the area has reaching shocking and unprecedented levels, residents said this week.
Weston Makoni, chairperson of the residents’ association told The Business Times all is not well in their community.
“We are living in hell. We have to live with air and water pollution daily. The gold panners are doing all they can to destroy our environment and us as well,” Makoni said.
“Dust is the order of the day while our water from the major source, Mutare River is now unusable. The water is dirty as the panners process their gold in the river using some chemicals we believe are dangerous.”
Makoni said young local girls have been attracted to the panners who seem to have money and gold dealers that frequent the area to buy the precious mineral.
“Gold buyers are always present and they splash money like confetti! It has become uncontrollable and quite worrisome for locals,” complained Makoni.
Tsverukai Duwa, another resident of Old West in Penhalonga said they fear for their health as they can contract some lung diseases caused by breathing the polluted air.
“This is a health time bomb we have here and our wish is that this mining is stopped forthwith,” said Duwa.
She said before the closure of Redwing Mine, at least the company would control dust emission through spraying water around and planting trees, but this has since stopped while the trees have been cut.
Josephine Musiyazviriyo echoed the same sentiments adding criminal activities have soured in recent weeks and months as more panners besiege the area in search for gold.
“We have not had joy ever since these people (illegal panners) invaded this area. Cases of theft, housebreaking, assault, muggings have risen during the period they started their activities,” Musiyazviriyo said.
Africa University Dean of Students George Miti, whose Pan-Africanist and Methodist-related institution of higher learning is around the mining area, said the college is under threat.
Miti said agricultural activities at the institution have been stalled while the information communication technology department, ICT services have been hampered on numerous occasions as the wiring has been tampered with by the panners.
“We can no longer grow crops at our agricultural department as the pipes are always clogged, blocked and also the water is contaminated. It is really worrying. Our network has also been compromised as the wiring has been cut by the illegal mining,” Miti said.
Mutasa South legislator Regai Tsunga told Business Times he had received a complaint from Africa University.
“I am aware of the challenges the college is facing. (Vice-Chancellor) Professor Munashe Furusa wrote to me about the matter arising and am seized with the case to address it with the relevant authorities,” Tsunga said.
