Minister Moyo: We’re working to reduce Hwange pollution

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Minister of Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo has responded to complaints from Hwange residents about pollution in the area, saying that the government is engaging with stakeholder companies to address the issue.

“We are engaging stakeholder companies that are all operating in coal mining in Hwange, working in collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency and Hwange Colliery, to address the issue of pollution,” Minister Moyo said.

“We are trying our level best as Matabeleland North province government to address the issue of pollution in Hwange. If you look closely now, the fluid that gets in the Deka river has been reduced. We have also tried to quell the pollution in the air and we are still trying to address that.”

Residents of Ingagula have been complaining about excessive dust pollution from haulage trucks and coal mining activities, which they say is causing respiratory diseases and other health problems.

Despite numerous petitions and engagements with authorities, including the Zimbabwe Power Company and Chinese companies involved in coal mining, the community remains vulnerable to the health risks.

Councillor Bryn Chikumbo has warned that the community is “sitting on a health time bomb” and has called for urgent action to address the pollution. Residents have also expressed frustration and anger over the lack of action from authorities to address the issue.

Health experts have warned that continuous exposure to air pollution such as coal ash and soil dust may lead to serious health problems, including pneumoconiosis, a group of interstitial lung diseases caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles that damage a person’s lungs.

The community is calling for safe mining practices and urgent action to address the pollution. Area MP Daniel Molokele has assured residents that he will raise the issue in Parliament.