Seven cattle have died at Mgagao Farm in Shamva after drinking water suspected to have been contaminated with cyanide that spilled from a nearby mine following heavy rains earlier this week.
Preliminary findings indicate that toxic water overflowed from Tasik Mine during Wednesday’s downpour and flowed onto a nearby road. The cattle are believed to have drunk the contaminated water while grazing in the area, leading to their sudden deaths.
Affected farmers have since demanded compensation from the mine owner, accusing the operation of negligence. One farmer, who lost a prized bull in the incident, said the miner had promised to compensate him and expressed hope that the pledge would be honoured.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has intervened to contain the situation and prevent further losses. Mashonaland Central EMA Environment and Publicity Officer, Mr Maxwell Mupotsa, confirmed that emergency measures were put in place soon after the incident.
“We immediately went on the ground and collected samples to establish the level of contamination,” Mupotsa said. “The mine was instructed to barricade the affected area and apply hydrosulphate to neutralise the polluted environment.”
He added that EMA is urging miners and industrial operators to strictly follow environmental management plans, including constructing proper containment ponds and cut-off trenches to prevent toxic spillages.
Tasik Mine has since begun decontamination efforts at the affected site and has reportedly committed to compensating the farmers for the losses incurred.
The Shamva incident adds to growing concerns over cyanide pollution linked to mining activities. In recent weeks, similar cases reported in Shamva and Bindura resulted in the deaths of seven more cattle, pushing the total number of livestock deaths linked to suspected cyanide contamination to 14.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as pressure mounts on mining operations to improve safety and environmental compliance.
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