THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has temporarily shut down Ran Mine in Bindura after traces of cyanide were found in Chipadze suburb water supply system after Thursday’s water spillage from the mine’s slime
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has temporarily shut down Ran Mine in Bindura after traces of cyanide were found in Chipadze suburb water supply system after Thursday’s water spillage from the mine’s slime dam.
The temporary shutdown of the mine is meant to allow authorities more time to deal with the water spillage, which contaminated water in the suburb and fish at Pote River and Arcadia dams.
EMA’s Provincial Environment and Publicity Officer Mr Maxwell Mupotsa said, “Our laboratory analysis from Thursday up to today has been sampling boreholes and streams close to Mushambanhaka into Pote River where there are reports of fish dying. We found that there are traces of cyanide in the area as well as clusters area in Chipadze. We ordered them to stop operations and focus mainly on this health hazard.”
The closure of the mine follows consensus from the Bindura Civil Protection Unit which met this Wednesday to review laboratory findings and immediately ordered a community awareness campaign.
Environmental Health Officer Mr. Fungai Mangwambi noted, “We just advised the community not to use the water from their wells because they are not fully protected, they must use the reticulation water from the council or local authority which is a bit safer as from now since we are expecting underground contamination.”
Chipadze residents had mixed reactions to the independent laboratory tests after being assured by Ran Mine on Friday not to worry as it had conducted its tests.
“We were told the mine conducted tests and the water was safe, but we saw with our own eyes that vegetables and trees were affected. On top of that, we have some shallow wells and now we are surprised we are being told not to use the water now. Our health is now at risk because we have been drinking that water,” a resident said.
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We are no longer sure what to believe because when they tested they said water was safe, now we are being told not to wash plates after hearing fish especially catfish died at Pote,” a resident added.
“I use a wheelchair and when I pass my gate, there is water. I don’t know to what extent I will be affected since I handle that water when wheeling my wheelchair,” another resident said.
Continuous assessment by the joint authorities, including ZINWA and the Ministry of Health and Child Care is expected to continue until decontamination measures have succeeded.Every water body in Zimbabwe is now poisonous as long as there's a mining activity nearby!
