Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Hwange residents are asking Parliament to look into mining practices they say are polluting the Deka River and putting both people and wildlife at risk.
The Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT) has filed a petition urging an inquiry into how local mining companies extract coal and handle their waste. The trust warns that current methods are creating a “danger” to communities and the environment.
In their petition to the Speaker of Parliament and MPs, GWRT said that Hwange District, including rural areas, urban settlements, and parts of Hwange National Park, depends heavily on the Deka River as a main water source. The river supports more than 50,000 residents and provides habitats for wildlife in nearby protected areas.
The trust said the rapid growth of open-cast and underground coal mining has raised the risk of environmental damage, and research already shows rising pollution levels in the Deka River.
Residents accuse some mining companies of dumping toxic waste into the river downstream from mining sites, putting both humans and animals in danger.
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