BY TANAKA MREWA

Community members of Goodwood village in Bubi district were met with the arrival of a group of Chinese individuals conducting a diamond exploration in their area.

Speaking to CITE on condition of anonymity, villagers expressed surprise at this development, noting that no consultations had been conducted by community leaders with the residents regarding the matter.

They voiced concerns about the potential impact of mining on their homes and the environment, citing examples from other areas where companies have focused solely on extraction, leaving behind degraded landscapes.

Ward 6 Councillor Alson Ntini sought to ease these concerns, explaining that the group is currently conducting preliminary studies to determine whether diamonds are present in the area.

“If diamonds are found, it would represent a significant development opportunity for the community,” said Cllr Ntini.

“Tests have already been conducted earlier, including an aerial survey to assess the area’s potential for diamonds. Following that, this group is now on the ground to perform physical tests. They will dig between 20 and 50 meters deep to collect samples for further analysis in laboratories.”

He added, “Once everything is verified, they will commence mining operations. This is a welcome development for our area because if diamonds are indeed found, the community stands to benefit.

“Our children could find employment at the mine, as all manual labor positions that do not require specific expertise will be sourced from within our community. This will create much-needed job opportunities for our youth.

Additionally, the company has committed to giving back by providing various resources for local development. However, this will only be confirmed once all processes are complete and mining operations actually begin.”

SOURCE: CITE

BY STAFF REPORTER 

A 32-year-old man from Emagageni Village, Inyathi, has been sentenced to pay a fine of USD400 or face 6 months imprisonment for illegally connecting Zesa wires at his workplace.

Zibusiso Ngwenya, a tyre repair and car wash attendant at the Inyathi Bus Terminus, was found to have bypassed and diverted electric current, using electricity from an ungoverned source without a meter.

On September 4, ZESA officials discovered the illegal connection during an inspection.

When questioned, Ngwenya claimed that his meter was burnt and he was waiting for a replacement from ZESA.

However, the officials were not convinced, and a loss control technician captured the illegal connection, filing a police report the following day.

The police, together with the ZESA team, returned to the scene and found the illegal connections disconnected.

Ngwenya was subsequently arrested and taken to court, where he received his sentence on Wednesday.

An additional six months were suspended for five years.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Hwange’s Empumalanga residents are holding demonstrations today at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority  (ZINWA) offices, protesting their disconnection from water sources since February.

The community, which is home to over 1 000 households, has gone without water for eight months.

According to Irene Shangwa, vice chairman of Phase 4 residents, the community has been resorting to drinking unclean water from ponds near sewer lines, which is also consumed by wild animals.

“For the past eight months, we have been drinking water from underground. We do not even know where that water is coming from, whether it’s sewer water or just dirty water. We just drink it,” Shangwa said.

Some residents have been asking relatives for water, while others are selling water for $1 for four or five buckets.

The residents are requesting that the  ZINWA reconnect them to the water supply, and they’re willing to pay a $10 reconnection fee.

The disconnection was due to a standoff between the Hwange Local Board and the ZINWA over arrears.

Women and children are the most affected, as they’re the ones who fetch water from the ponds, exposing them to other diseases.

Last year they also went for eleven months without water, drinking from the ponds.

This is despite Zimbabwe being a signatory to the UN Human Rights Council, which recognizes the right to safe, clean, and potable water.

The country’s 2013 constitution also obliges the government to ensure that every person has access to safe and clean water.

For this, Shangwa says the demonstrations are to demand immediate action to address the water crisis and ensure that they have access to safe and clean drinking water.

More to follow…