Crushed Dreams: How Chinese Mining is Wrecking Zimbabwe's Mountains

This mountain you see used to be the same as the one in the background before it was destroyed. If this doesn't stop next generations will only see these mountains on pictures and videos 

The Hidden Cost of Granite Mining

Granite mining in Zimbabwe has been on the rise, and it’s often led by Chinese companies. While granite is a beautiful, strong material used in homes and buildings, the process of getting it comes with a heavy cost. The mountains that have stood tall for centuries are now being destroyed, leaving the environment scarred and communities suffering.

Mountains Don't Grow Back

Imagine a giant mountain that took millions of years to form. Now picture it being blasted apart for rocks. That’s what’s happening in Zimbabwe. These mining operations strip away layers of earth, making it hard for plants to grow back. Nature needs time to heal, and when mountains are destroyed, the landscape changes forever.

Pollution: A Silent Killer

It’s not just about the mountains. Mining brings tons of dust and chemicals that pollute the air and water. Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes from? When nearby rivers are filled with mining waste, it puts everyone at risk. Families can get sick, and animals can’t survive in polluted streams. This should worry us all.

Lost Homes and Livelihoods

Many local villagers depend on the land for their living. When mining companies come in, they take over these lands and push people out. Imagine losing your home because someone else wants to dig for rocks. People are left with nowhere to go and no way to earn a living. The promise of jobs often doesn’t match reality; many workers face unsafe conditions and low pay.

Environmental Laws in the Shadows

Zimbabwe has laws meant to protect the environment. Unfortunately, these rules aren’t always enforced. Mining companies sometimes get away with cutting corners. It’s like having a safety net that has holes in it. Without strict enforcement, the land and its people continue to suffer.

The Fight for a Greener Future

Local communities are starting to stand up against these mining practices. They know that if they don't speak out, the mountains will vanish, and their families will face even harder lives. Activists are pushing for better regulations and more support for sustainable practices. People are realizing that granite isn't worth the sacrifice of their homes and health.

Conclusion: The Choice is Ours

As consumers, we have the power to make choices that protect our environment. When we think about the products we buy, we should consider where they come from and how they impact the world. If we choose to demand responsible mining, maybe we can save those beautiful mountains in Zimbabwe from destruction. It’s time to stand together for a cleaner, healthier planet.

A DISASTER IN WAITING FOR HARARE RESIDENTS

 

Homeless people exposed to environmental health hazards

By Environmental Correspondent

Harare-Zimbabwe

Poor waste management by the City of Harare has seen the Copacabana bus terminus looking like a newly established landfill.

All sorts of waste can be seen scattered all over the place with the few skip bins available reaching over their carrying capacity and over spilling.

"They don't collect waste here, We last saw them a long time ago, The bins are full and overflowing as you can see my brother". said one commuter who pleaded for anonymity.

The political showdown between the Zanu-PF-led national government and the opposition MDC-Alliance which controls Harare's local government business is being blamed for all this irresponsible behavior.

The two political rivals are focusing on exposing each other at the expense of ratepayers and creating a big health hazard in the process.

Mixed waste causing an offensive smell in Harare

Poor waste management in urban areas normally results in the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

One opposition politician, Jacob Ngarivhume who leads Transform Zimbabwe has been denied permission to do voluntary clean up work in the city's high-density suburbs including the highly populated Mbare.

Police cited covid 19 regulations in denying Ngarivhume a permit to clean the area which is so disturbing as we have seen certain people being allowed to gather thousands of people for no good reason than just being cheered up and praised.

Residents, commuters and environmental and human rights activists are appealing to the responsible authorities to put their political games on pause and focus on serious governance business if they need to be voted back into office in the upcoming local government by elections and the watershed 2023 Harmonised elections.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS AND POLLUTION IN URBAN AREAS

 

A river passes through an urban residential area.

Rivers and streams that pass through urban areas are the most polluted due to various factors ...Rivers transport clean safe water from their source high up in mountains or middle of deep forests up until they pass through a town or city.

Some of the major factors why water pollution is so rampant in urban areas include poor sewage and waste management systems and deliberate illegal dumping of pollutants from both residential, agricultural, and industrial areas

Illegal dumping of Waste leads to water and environmental pollution 

When there is a poor refuse collection service in any residential area illegal dumping is inevitable. 

Residents need proper refuse collection services or education on how to sort their waste for recycling purposes. 

Another contributor to water pollution is manufacturing factories that have no proper waste management plan.

Most of these factories secretly dump their wastewater which contains highly toxic chemicals in water sources. 

Some of these pollutants include dye from textile factories, oil from Engineering, and other manufacturing industries that produce waste oil.

To stop illegal dumping which is a major cause of water pollution Municipalities need to provide a reliable waster collection, transportation, and sewage treatment system.

Residents also need to be educated about the dangers of their actions when they dispose of their waste at illegal sites.

There should also be mass Awareness Campaigns teaching residents about clean water and wastewater management in all urban areas where residents can be taught how to recycle their wastewater and reuse it for other purposes before letting it evaporate back to its natural cycle. 

Leaking taps should be fixed in time and blocked sewage drains should be cleaned to prevent them from bursting as that may cause serious Environmental health hazards. 

Industries need to be strictly penalized if caught dumping any form of waste by the county's Environmental regulations and legislation.