Lithium mining: A big threat to land and people
Mining of lithium in Zvishavane have posed a great threat to people and the environment also continues to suffer land degradation annually.
Living in close proximity to lithium mining areas can have several negative impacts which include air and water pollution, noise and vibrations, and also health concerns.
According to Bethel Nyado, one of the residents in Manjere “I relocated from Novelvale to Manjere because of the noise and vibrations which occured during day and night of lithium workers operating their machinery, breaking stones into smaller elements”. This really affected my peace during the night when l wanted to sleep, she said.
Tendai Nhamo (33) who is one of the workers in the Lithuim mining, further illustrated, “l now have respiratory problem, which was caused by dust and pollutants released during the breaking of stones into small elements which is carriable by trucks, l went to the hospital and they give me pills and the doctor encourages me to stop going to the lithuim mining” , he said.
According to Simbarashe Mafuta (45), “the Chinese are taking lithuim 20 kilometers away from Zvishavane, instead of them opening a firm there for breaking and packing the lithuim stones which is transported to the sea port in South Africa”. They decide to open their firm for breaking and packing their stones in saga bags in Novelvale ,where people resides and this really affected me negatively through that, there is noise and air pollution which is really affecting me, he said.
Zvishavane is equally dominated by wildlife, excess mining activities pose a threat to wildlife, whereby they destroy their shelter through deforestation, and land degradation.
The Chinese have brought more harm than good.........., lithium mining activities
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