The development was revealed last week during a stakeholders meeting, which was attended by village heads and villagers from Chipinge, Chimanimani and Chiredzi. The river is the main source of water to these areas.
The meeting coordinator, Joseph Mutsvaidzwa, said one of the major concerns was the cutting down of trees to facilitate brick-moulding along the river bank. This is causing soil erosion and siltation.
Headman Lovemore Mahachi accused the Chipinge town council of placing its dumpsite five metres from the river, which led to waste being washed into the water. “It was stressed during the meeting that instead of using wood for brick moulding, villagers should mould bricks using cement,” said Mutsvaidzwa.
Other stakeholders expressed concern over toxic affluent from diamond mining companies in Chiyadzwa in Manicaland province, which was polluting the river.
Post published in: News