Gvt must address coal seam fires in Hwange – CNRG
The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has urged government agencies like the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to address coal seam fires that have left several people burnt in Hwange.
Vongai Mbara
This comes after an eight-year-old girl was burnt by coal fires after she accidentally fell into a coal-ash disposal site belonging to the Hwange Colliery Company on Saturday.
The girl is currently battling for life at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and several other people in the coal-rich district have been left injured after stepping on coal seam fires.
Speaking in a report titled “Effects of coal seam fires and other environmental hazards on children in Hwange”, the CNRG said the fires continued to jeopardise children’s lives.
“Many of the victims of these fires are children whose future has been ruined by permanent injuries, lengthy periods spent in hospital and unending excruciating pain that has become a permanent experience in their lives, largely due to inadequate therapy they receive,” read the CNRG report.
“Despite clear evidence of the huge risk posed by coal-mining activities in Hwange, government, HCCL and EMA have not done anything so far to protect the children and the community.
The organisation said measures like policy interventions to protect children from mining hazards should be taken.
“Ema is expected to execute its mandate of monitoring the adherence of mining companies to environmental management regulations without fear or favour.”
It added that concessions owned by the HCCL had become silent killers due to poor implementation of environmental laws.
“Residents have noted that mine residue dumps found in Number 2 and 3 areas of HCCL are some of the most hazardous sites with raging underground coal seam fires.”