By Takudzwa Josiah
In a resounding call to action, mining consultant and Ateg Resources Director, Takunda Hove, is reminding miners of the ban on the use of mercury in mining operations.
Zimbabwe has ratified the Minamata Convention, effectively prohibiting the use of mercury in mining operations and implementing strict regulations to prevent its release from industrial equipment such as boilers, incinerators, and power stations.
Hove, speaking with a sense of urgency, emphasizes that the use of mercury is now illegal and urges miners to explore alternative methods to carry out their vital work.
Adding her voice to the growing chorus of concern, Mercy Muradzwa, a dedicated health practitioner based in Zvishavane, shines a spotlight on the crucial role played by women artisanal miners in the small-scale and artisanal mining industry.
These women, through their unwavering dedication, contribute invaluable efforts to the sector. However, lurking beneath the surface lies a dangerous threat: mercury.
This toxic substance poses significant risks to the health of these women, jeopardizing their fertility, increasing the likelihood of pregnancy complications, and posing developmental problems for their children. The urgency of the situation demands immediate action.
Yet, amidst these troubling revelations, there is even greater cause for concern. During conversations held at an illegal mining site on the outskirts of Zvishavane’s Central Business District, the women miners shared a startling lack of awareness regarding the ban on mercury and its associated dangers to their well-being.
Despite the looming risks, their determination to provide for their families and secure their children’s education pushes them to persist in their arduous work. Their resilience is both admirable and heartrending, symbolizing the extraordinary lengths they are willing to go to ensure survival.
For far too long, mercury has been easily accessible to Zimbabwean miners, its allure overshadowing the dire consequences it brings.
This highly toxic metal poses severe risks to public health when it infiltrates food sources and groundwater. Unfortunately, the adverse effects are particularly pronounced for women artisanal miners, as experts caution that exposure to mercury significantly heightens the risk of miscarriages and other pregnancy complications.