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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Owen Ncube has called on responsible authorities to launch an investigation into reports of poisonous chemicals having been discharged into Sebakwe Dam on the outskirts of Kwekwe.

Dozens of fish species are said to have died in Sebakwe Dam.

There are fears that Sebakwe River, which flows into Kariba, would spread the poisonous chemical.

Addressing Government and local authority heads from Kwekwe district at Kwekwe town house yesterday, Minister Ncube said discharging poisonous chemicals into Sebakwe Dam posed an ecological disaster.

“There is a matter of concern here in Kwekwe district which needs urgent investigation. I hear there is a company discharging poisonous chemicals in Sebakwe Dam and several fish species are dying there. We fear this could be a real disaster and responsible authorities should act,” he said.

Minister Ncube said Sebakwe River flows in Kariba and there were fears that the poisonous chemical could end up in Kariba and the Zambezi River.

He said the poisonous chemicals were also a health time bomb to Kwekwe and Redcliff residents.

Sebakwe River supplies the two municipalities with water.

“I have come here with officials from the Environment Management Agency and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to jointly investigate the case where thousands of fish are reported to have died in Sebakwe Dam due to contamination,” he said.

Minister Ncube said culprits must be punished.

“We call upon on the relevant authorities to speed up their investigations so that corrective measures can be taken,” he said.

Kwekwe Mayor, Alderman Matenda Madzoke, assured residents that the water was safe for consumption.

• “We want to assure residents that our water remains one of the best in the country as it goes through a massive purification exercise,” he said.