Villagers in Gwanda have applauded the Gwanda lithium mine for swiftly addressing the issue of boulders of lithium ore falling from trucks during transportation to the Mandihongola plant.
Last month, CITE revealed safety concerns at the Gwanda lithium mine, highlighting the risks posed by falling boulders to villagers and motorists.
The Gwanda lithium mine is jointly owned by Crawford Minerals and Dinson Mining Investment, a subsidiary of the Tsingshan Group of China.
Responsible mining entails ensuring that mining activities do not harm the environment or violate human rights.
Gift Sebata, a villager from Ntalale, confirmed the positive developments. โThey picked up the boulders,โ he said. โWe feel weโve reached a point where the lithium mine is doing what theyโre expected to do. They now have a dedicated vehicle specifically for picking up fallen boulders.โ
Sebata, however, revealed that the trucks have changed their route, now passing along Manyange.
โWeโre unsure if theyโre taking the same precautions on this new route,โ he said. โI donโt know how those villagers are affected now.โ
Ward 11 Councillor Wilson Sebata also confirmed that the Gwanda lithium mine has addressed the issue of boulders on the road. โTheyโve removed the boulders. Youโve done a lot, guys. Keep it up,โ he said.
Lungile Masuku, team leader of the Gwanda Community Economic Justice Development Trust (an organisation focusing on social injustices in the extractives and environmental sector), expressed appreciation for the mineโs efforts to remove the boulders.
โWe appreciate that theyโve realised they need to pick up the boulders immediately to prevent accidents, especially for those using vehicles. This shows theyโve listened to the communityโs grievances,โ she said.
However, she raised concerns about dust issues. โThey havenโt changed their speed, but this can be hard to monitor as they might slow down when approaching people. However, this dust doesnโt only affect people; it also affects vegetation, which is vital for livestock,โ Masuku concluded.
