The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE management and protection of dumps came into the spotlight recently when eight-year-old Alisha Muzwiti from Makwika Village in Hwange died after suffering severe burns on her lower body, burns inflicted after she fell into a coal ash disposal site.
The coal ash which burnt Alisha which was left behind by Hwange Colliery Company at one of their mining sites.
Coal ash is the powdery substance which is left behind after burning coal in coal powered plants.
It is dangerous because it burns for prolonged periods underground and invisible to the eye and this is where young Alisha fell victim after she had gone to the bush to relieve herself with a relative.
Alisha’s mother was alerted by a friend of Alisha’s that she had fallen into a coal fire and they ferried her to the Colliery Hospital. After a day she was transferred to St Patrick’s Hospital and then to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo where she lost her life last week.
Research done by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance titled Effects of Coal Seam Fires and Other Environmental Hazards on Children in Hwange revealed that underground coal fires in the mining town are endangering human lives leaving many with permanent disabilities while some are losing their lives.
Underground coal fires can burn for decades undetected but can also protrude to the surface of the earth and burn vegetation, infrastructure and animals.
The research revealed that children were highly affected as they were very active and playful.
“It is therefore important for mining companies to put in place policies that protect and safeguard children from physical danger. Dangerous sites must be properly secured to ensure children don’t gain access. In places with underground fires such as Hwange, the company and the Environmental Management Agency have a duty to keep watch over these fires and warn the community accordingly,” the report read.
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) which is responsible for the administration of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on development projects such as mining, expressed their sympathy towards Alisha.
The Matabeleland North Provincial Environmental Manager, Mrs Chipo Zuze-Mpofu, said the EIA was to ensure that mined areas were properly rehabilitated.
“The major purpose of an EIA is to make sure that all damaged/mined areas are properly rehabilitated during and at the end of the project cycle. The recommendation is for the rehabilitation that leaves the place at a state that does not cause any harm to the present and future generations.
“Looking at the case we are faced with, our past legacy did not adequately rehabilitate and protect the old works in order to fully protect its future generations who are us and those to come after us.
This is a point which though sad, we pray would speak and convince today’s developers to see the value of developing air tight Environmental Management Plans (EMP) and religiously implementing these plans,” she said.
Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said developers/miners should also see the need to pay into a mining fund during the time a mine is operational saying it is these funds that could be then harnessed to fortify the rehabilitation or protection measures of a decommissioned mine.
She further stressed on the principle of stakeholder participation, saying operators should look outside the traditional ways of protecting their environments and communities.
“The company should work together with the communities in identifying lasting solutions to the problems which should include keeping the dangerous area off access,” she said.
CNRG further told the Ministry of Health and Child Care to inspect the safety and wellbeing of children in mining zones and make policy recommendations to the government for tightening of laws to ensure children do not fall victim to mining hazards.
“Children usually play on grounds close to the mine dumps or run-on grounds that have underground fires, unaware of the dangers.
The areas with underground fires are not secured and some of the fires are invisible such that children can easily walk over the ground. Equally, adults have fallen victim to these underground fires as they pursue their day-to-day livelihood activities in and around the mine,” they noted.
CNRG also revealed that survivors from burn injuries often suffer from chronic pain and sensory problems and loss of strength with some developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after being discharged from health institutions and can go on for many years.
They recommend that mining companies must have clear child safeguarding policies, they also recommend that coal mining companies must carry out awareness raising campaigns in schools and communities on the dangers of coal seam fires.
Furthermore, they urged the Government to aid in rehabilitation programmes for victims of the fires and also how to manage the fires. @NyembeziMu
