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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
Government has put in place measures to control pollution caused by gold panning activities along the banks of Rusitu and Pungwe rivers in Manicaland Province. The pollution of the two rivers had a negative impact on the lives of villagers in Manica and Manicaland provinces and has been a cause for concern for Zimbabwean and Mozambican authorities.

In an interview with The Herald, Manicaland provincial administrator Mr Edgar Seenza said efforts to control gold panning activities along the river banks had commenced at the beginning of this year and would continue into the foreseeable future.

“Government started implementing measures to control gold panning activities along the banks at the beginning of this year,” he said. “So far we have seen a significant improvement in the quality of water that flows in the two rivers.”

Mr Seenza added that they would continue working with Mozambique to ensure that the quality of water in the two rivers continues to improve and benefit the local communities.

Pungwe River has its source at the foot of Nyangani Mountain and flows southeast through the Manica and Sofala provinces of Mozambique.

Rusitu River, on the other hand, flows from the foot of Chimanimani Mountains and enters neighbouring Mozambique.
Since 2003, the sediment concentrations in Pungwe River have vastly risen due to an increase in informal gold mining activities.

Mr Seenza said fishing activities, which are a major source of nutrition and income in Manica province for many households have been disrupted by the pollution.

Communities and livestock are also exposed to contaminated drinking water.
Government has been on a drive to formalise and regulate unregistered mine operators. At the same time, illegal gold panning has continued to affect communities as gold panners use mercury and other dangerous chemicals to extract gold.

Analysts contend that the effects of gold panning on communities can be alleviated by taking the processes further inland and using the mine water to separate the gold.

It is estimated that a total of 1,5 million people are engaged in artisanal mining across the country. However, only a quarter or even less of the number is registered.