In the community

Hwange entrepreneurs turn coal dust into cash with brick moulding ventures

Published

3 years ago

January 14, 2022

BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Hwange entrepreneurs are making brisk business from bricks that they mould using coal dust , which they sell to customers from as far as Harare.

Coal dust is a fine powdered form of the fossil mineral, which is created by the crushing, grinding or pulverising of coal.

In Hwange town, coal dust is found in huge quantities because of the mining activities and the processing of coal by various players.

Nkosiyapha Kufa (26) is one of the entrepreneurs, who are taking advantage of the resource to make a living through a brick moulding business.

Kufa, who is now legally registered as a brick moulder at Five Miles area under the Hwange Rural District Council (HRDC), says the business has changed his fortunes.

The major raw materials used by his business are coal, water and slurry (coal dust) that he uses to make the much sought after red bricks.

Kufa says the bricks have become very popular because they are strong and are moisture resistant.

“We mix the slurry (coal dust) with soil and and water to make these durable bricks,” he said.

“The coal is used in the ovens for heating these brick, but it is not easy.

“So a workforce of 10 people can take 14 days to mould about 10 000 bricks.”

Kufa said often female employs worked in the ovens while their male counterparts moulded the bricks.

“The bricks take seven days to ‘cook’ in the oven and the workforce is paid US$10 per 10 000 bricks, so l work with a target,” he said.

In Hwange’s Five Miles area, a group of 32 individuals have been given permission by the HRDC to venture into the brick moulding business.

They were allocated a piece of land to conduct their business, which has become an important source of scarce jobs.

The brick-moulders, who are licensed by the Environmental Management Agency, follow recommendations made by the agency which emphasises on the need for proper 0environmental care and tree planting around the areas where they operate from.

Kufa said although the business was rewarding, they faced varuous challenges.

“People are not reliable, some come with requests of advance payments to address their needs and they disappear once you pay them,” he said.

“I could not sleep the other day when it rained and I was thinking about the potential losses.

” I had a lot of ‘uncooked’ bricks and I feared for damage.”

Apart from operational challenges, brick moulders say lack of support by the government and the entry of Chinese companies into business, is threatening their survival.

For Sino Hydro Company, which is partnering the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in the Hwange Power Station expansion project buys its bricks from Zimbabwe Zhing-Zhong Bricks, another Chinese entity.

Hwange Central Member of Parliament Daniel Molokele said the Chinese company was choking the local brick producers.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

3 weeks ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

2 months ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.