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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
Mazowe Bridge along Bindura-Mt Darwin Road is under threat of collapse due to illegal gold panning taking place underneath, provincial development coordinator Mr Cosmos Chiringa has said. Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga, officials from Bindura Municipality, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Environmental Management Agency and Zimbabwe National Water Authority, visited the bridge on Tuesday to assess its state.

Mr Chiringa said they were treating the issue with urgency.
“The minister decided to visit the site after getting information of infrastructure and environmental damages happening at the bridge along Mazowe River,” said Mr Chiringa.

“The bridge is under threat because illegal gold panners are digging huge pits, thereby damaging the pillars of the bridge. They also changed the course of the river and this has also resulted in the water drying up.
“Wheat farmers along the Mazowe River are greatly affected by the drying up of their irrigation water source. Afterwards, Bindura Municipality took us to their water treatment plant in Matepatepa along Mazowe River.

“The situation there is even worse and illegal gold panning activities along the Mazowe River is polluting water at the treatment plant. The water being pumped from the river is brownish in colour and this means they use a lot of chemicals to treat and purify that water.

“The municipality said because of the pollution, the cost of treating water is now equivalent to a big city like Bulawayo. The Minister asked me to organise for a meeting to look into the matter in two weeks.

“We are to come up with recommendations and the course of action to be taken to correct the situation as a matter of urgency. We are going to involve the police to remove all illegal gold panners along Mazowe River.”
Cde Chiringa advised artisanal miners to adhere to proper mining procedures, laws and regulations.