Ran Mine Temporarily Shut Down Due to Cyanide Contamination

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The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has temporarily shut down Ran Mine in Bindura following the detection of cyanide traces in the water supply system of Chipadze suburb after Thursday’s water spillage from the mine’s slime dam.

The temporary closure of Ran Mine is intended to give authorities more time to address the water spillage, which contaminated water in Bindura’s Chipadze suburb and affected fish in Pote River and Arcadia dams.

“Our laboratory analysis from Thursday up to today has involved sampling boreholes and streams close to Mushambanhaka into Pote River, where there were reports of fish dying. We found traces of cyanide in the area, as well as in clusters in Chipadze. We ordered the mine to stop operations and focus on this health hazard,” said Mr. Maxwell Mupotsa, Provincial Environment and Publicity Officer for EMA.

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The Bindura Civil Protection Unit met on Wednesday to review laboratory findings and immediately launched a community awareness campaign.

“We just advised the community not to use water from their wells because they are not fully protected. They must use the reticulation water from the council or local authority, which is a bit safer for now as we are expecting underground contamination,” stated Mr. Fungai Mangwambi, Environmental Health Officer.

Chipadze residents had mixed reactions to the independent laboratory tests after being assured by Ran Mine on Friday that their own tests indicated the water was safe.

“We were told the mine conducted tests and the water was safe, but we saw with our own eyes that vegetables and trees were affected. Now, we are surprised we are being told not to use the water. Our health is at risk because we have been drinking that water,” said one resident.

Another resident expressed uncertainty, saying, “We are no longer sure what to believe because when they tested, they said the water was safe. Now we are being told not to wash plates after hearing that fish, especially catfish, died in Pote.”

A resident who uses a wheelchair added, “I don’t know to what extent I will be affected since I handle that water when wheeling my wheelchair.”

Continuous assessment by joint authorities, including ZINWA and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, is expected to continue until decontamination measures are successful.

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