Harare mayor, Herbert Gomba, has raised the red flag over possible siltation of Lake Chivero by gold mining activities at Kintyre Estate which is located within the catchment area of the city’s main water body.
Speaking during NewZimbabwe.com’s programme, The Agenda, Gomba revealed that he had engaged Harare Minister for Provincial Affairs, Oliver Chidawu. Said Gomba:
We have had people going to the Kintyre Estate from the mountain that is a supporting wall to Lake Chivero.
People have started mining gold and they are disposing heavy chemicals such as mercury into Lake Chivero.
We just have to stop them so we had discussions with Minister of State for provincial affairs, Oliver Chidawu for assistance so that the central government can deploy officers to remove the people.
Gomba said that Harare’s water supply is also being threatened by urban farmers and manufacturing companies who are disposing of chemicals into the water.