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Fungayi Munyoro Mutare Correspondent
Villagers of Dorapindo’s Ward 35 in Zimunya are fretting over high pollution levels in Sakubva River, which they said were disrupting agricultural activities that the river was expected to support. The Sakubva drains Mutare, and Zimunya is downstream of the city, receiving the city pollution. At a recent meeting convened to discuss the matter, the villagers sought to find ways of ending the pollution menace that has reportedly caused the deaths of livestock, particularly cattle due to pollution related health complications. One of the villagers, Lovemore Mufute, who is now based in Harare where he runs some businesses said a lot had been affected by the pollution in Sakubva River.

“The water in the river is dirty; chemicals from timber companies have polluted it and people are using the water for watering vegetables in their gardens. The state of our area has deteriorated. Besides the issue of Sakubva River, people are just cutting down trees, and lorries are damaging our roads, as they come to take river sand. Some residents are also doing stream bank cultivation,” he complained.

Mufute said things were not well in their area, so they had decided to gather as a village to map the way forward. Over 300 people attended the meeting that was held at the Roman Catholic Church premises in Dorapindo. Among some of the villagers’ complaints was that they had advised the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) about the situation, but nothing had been done in response. Efforts to get a comment from EMA on the matter were fruitless, as phones to their public relations department kept going unanswered.

“We are planning to approach the Mutare City Council over the matter. We hope to fix the roads and seek permission to put a tollgate and the money will be used to further develop the area,” he said.

Ward 35 headman, Denford Nyakunu said the pollution levels had been building over decades.

“The problem started way back in 1965 when we were resettled here. The rate of pollution was not as high as it is now. EMA was consulted but they did nothing to save the situation. We also consulted the Mutare City Council, but up to now they have not responded. We are happy to have Mufute and hope he will help us a lot. We have lost our livestock due to water borne diseases caused by the dirt. Our children are also suffering from bilharzia and skin related diseases,” he said.

Mutare City Council mayor, Tatenda Nhamarare professed ignorance over the matter saying he had never received such a report.

“I am not aware of the reports by the Dorapindo people. Who did they talk to?” he asked.

Sakubva River is posing a serious health threat to the Dorapindo community, as it depends on the water for domestic uses. Cases of diarrhoea and skin diseases are very common in the area.