By Dumisani Ndlovu
Mhondongori villagers in Zvishavane have expressed concern over their houses which they say might collapse anytime following the ongoing blasts from a Chinese Chrome mine.
Scores of villagers blame the blasts from local mines for cracks to their houses.
Most villagers who spoke to this publication in the mining area fear their houses will collapse any minute and they will not have anywhere to stay or anything to leave as a legacy for their children.
A snap research by this publication revealed that the blasts which normally happen in the morning and in the evening has seen a number of houses close to the mining site developing cracks following the random heavy blasts at the mine.
“Here we are faced with serious challenges, our houses are cracking following heavy blasts from the Chinese mine,” said one of the villagers Susan Katumbi.
“We sometime gathered with local leadership, EMA and the miners themselves but up to now nothing materialised. I don’t know how we can be assisted with this mine that is within our household. We are now leaving in fear due to these heavy blasts” said another villager who only identified himself as Musaigwa.
She said the heavy blasts which take about three minutes, or more are often heard underneath their houses.
Another resident, Edwin Hove said he has lost windows due to heavy blasts.
“In a community meeting last year, the Chinese promised to rectify the problem, but we have not seen them since that time,” Musaigwa said.
She said even the heavy-duty vehicles which now frequent the suburb to ferry quarry also have an effect on the road infrastructure.
Another villager only identified as Mpala said“We are now afraid we will die in our houses one day, as these Chinese don’t even care. We have exhausted every possible avenue to no avail. We don’t know where to report this matter”.
He added that before the mine came his house was in good condition. Every time it explodes my house shakes. Since these miners came in, we are faced with a challenge.
“These cracks are continuing, and I fear that my house will collapse on the other side, so we are appealing for assistance. We have tried to engage the leadership in different meetings and the Chinese promised to go around seeing the impact, but they have not done this, and we haven’t received any assistance,” said Mpala.
