The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
KWEKWE Mayor Councillor Matenda Madzoke has dismissed as baseless and untrue reports suggesting that infrastructure in the city could sink into disused mine tunnels that run beneath the central business district.
In an interview on Wednesday, Clr Madzoke described the reports as mere speculation that was not based on any empirical evidence.
State broadcaster ZBC on Tuesday quoted an official from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development confirming that some buildings on the eastern side of the city were at risk of sinking into the disused tunnels below.
Midlands provincial mining engineer Mr Peter Paswavaviri confirmed to ZBC that investigations carried out by his ministry established that there had been ground movement on the eastern side of the town, which threatened buildings in that part of town.
Following the report, panic swept across Kwekwe as residents feared that catastrophe could strike their city any moment.
Suggestions have also been proffered that the local authority should shift the central business district to a safe area, in light of the looming disaster.
However, Clr Madzoke allayed fears of buildings in the city sinking into the disused tunnels, saying his city’s engineering department had conducted assessments and established that the tunnels did not pose any threat to the city’s infrastructure.
“There is no danger whatsoever that the city might collapse. I have checked with our engineering department and they say the town is safe from that kind of disaster.
“If really there was any danger the whole nation would be alarmed because if the town is to collapse it would be a national disaster. It won’t be Kwekwe’s disaster only.
“This whole noise is just a case of the media getting excited over unfounded claims. At best it can be described as a storm in a tea cup.
“Let me take this opportunity to assure Kwekwe residents and passersby that the city of Kwekwe is safe from collapsing, we are not under any kind of threat,” he said.
Clr Madzoke said the one kilometre distance of mass earth from the roof of the tunnel to the city’s surface was safe from collapse, and strong enough to sustain any kind of pressure from the surface.
He added that council would continue with its plans to develop the city centre and would not be perturbed by the unfounded suggestion that the city was on the brink of collapse.
The Kwekwe mayor urged prospective investors not to be distracted by the recent reports, saying Kwekwe was a safe destination for any kind of investment.
“There is one kilometre of mass earth between the tunnel and the surface, which is very strong and will not collapse. It’s just the media that is blowing this whole thing out of proportion.
“What I’m telling you is what we have confirmed and that is why as council we have not stopped developing the CBD. We will continue putting up more structures there because we are confident that our city is safe. Investors should not be scared away by such reports, because the reports are not based on evidence,” he said.
Clr Madzoke said the local authority together with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development were working on closing the tunnels in question to curb illegal gold panning that occurs in them.
The disused tunnels that run underneath the city were left by Globe and Phoenix Mining Company, and fears were that due to mining activities and increased rains, the ground under the city was softening.
This is not the first time that alarm has been raised over the threat posed by the disused tunnels to infrastructure in the gold-rich town.
Two years ago, Midlands provincial administrator Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo warned that Kwekwe was sitting on a time bomb that could explode anytime if proper attention was not given to the disused tunnels.
Mrs Chitiyo urged relevant authorities to be proactive on the matter before disaster struck.
Her remarks came in the wake of concerns that had been raised by the then Kwekwe district environmental officer, Mr Nelton Mangazi, that illegal gold panning activities in the city were posing a huge threat to the environment.
Kwekwe is not the only town that has been besieged by illegal gold mining activities which have triggered fears of infrastructural destruction.
The scenic Boterekwa Road in Shurugwi is also reported to be under threat of collapsing into underlying tunnels that are being dug by illegal gold panners in the town.
