- Following the discharge of cyanide laden waste into Angwa River of Zimbabwe by a Chinese owned gold mine near Karoi has created panic among villagers.
- The incident was reported at D-Troop Jiangxi Risheng Mine, where a slimes dam wall collapsed resulting in the discharge of slimes into Angwa River.
Following the discharge of cyanide laden waste into Angwa River of Zimbabwe by a Chinese owned gold mine near Karoi has created panic among villagers. The river, rich in diverse aquatic life including fish and crocodiles, supports the communities along the bank of the river. The incident was reported at D-Troop Jiangxi Risheng Mine, where a slimes dam wall collapsed resulting in the discharge of slimes into Angwa River. The contaminated water led to poisoning of the fish species in the river and deaths of many fish.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) which visited the site confirmed the leakage. An EMA report informed that the cut-off trenches along the mine due to lack of maintenance, led to overflow of slimes into the river resulting in contamination of the water body. It further pointed out that the mine neither had any emergency spill response strategy in place nor the required ferrous Sulphate to decontaminate the affected area.
The government of Zimbabwe has served the Chinese miner with an Environmental Protection Order in terms Section 37 of the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20:27 demanding the Miner to ensure continuous monitoring and decontamination, as well as engaging local communities downstream.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/fao-three-million-zimbabweans-in-need-of-humanitarian-assistance/
