SYDNEY MUBAIWA
KWEKWE- Artisanal miners in Kwekwe pose a significant threat to the local authority’s infrastructure due to their unregulated mining operations, Kwekwe Mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga has said.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, Zinhanga said the illegal mining operations have resulted in water and sewer pipe bursts.
“Illegal mining operations are becoming a big challenge in Kwekwe as this has adversely affected our infrastructure. We have many cases of water and sewer burst pipes and in most cases we find sacks and sand left behind by these miners.
“Artisanal miners are also contaminating water sources by using mercury in their mining activities and vandalising sewer pipes to access water for gold purification,” he said.
He called for collaborative efforts to educate the miners to address the complex issues surrounding artisanal mining in the city.
The city has underground tunnels some extending as deep as 1.5 kilometres beneath the Central Business District (CBD) and residential areas with high risks of collapse.
The collapse of underground voids has led to sinkholes and cave-ins, affecting buildings and major roads.
A recent incident at Globe and Phoenix Primary School saw a classroom block collapse into an abandoned tunnel, injuring several students.
However, government is failing to stop the illegal mining activities with speculation on the ground indicating that top Zanu PF officials are at play.
