Silicosis crisis finally put to rest 8 months on

BRENNA MATENDERE

Authorities in Kwekwe have confirmed that a silicosis crisis caused by Chinese cement manufacturer, Livetouch (Pvt) Ltd, has been ended after an exposure by The NewsHawks eight months ago.

The initial investigative story showed that the company was operating close to a residential area in the Midlands town of Redcliff, causing dust pollution which contributed to the death of several persons due to silicosis scourge.

Silicosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling tiny bits of silica.

Livetouch, through its subsidiary Diamond Cement, was exposed for emitting huge amounts of dust that contain silica, which is common in sand, quartz and other types of rock.

The investigation established that some residents of Stoneclair Park as well as workers at Diamond Cement and the nearby SteelMakers were suffering acute exposure to the harmful dust emissions.

However interviews done with authorities from Kwekwe this week, eight months after the investigation by The NewsHawks, it was revealed that Livetouch has effectively corrected the health disaster.

Vincent Masiiwa, the mayor of Redcliff said:

“It seems these days complains have cooled down and Livetouch is continuously taking corrective measures to deal with the dust pollution.”

When asked if silicosis cases were still rampant in the area, mayor Masiiwa said:

“No cases have been reported at our clinics this year.”Kwekwe District Development Coordinator Fortune Mpungu also confirmed that the crisis has now been contained after Livetouch bowed down to pressure and rolled out several corrective measures.

“The company has pavements on its premises. The heaps of soils that were facing the residential suburbs were decommissioned.

“They managed to plant trees on the windward side . The company is also watering the pavements regularly as a dust suppression measure,” he said.

Mpungu added tht the measures are commendable but promised to continue monitoring the compliance.

Amkela Sidange, the Environmental Management Agency spokesperson also confirned that Livetouch has fullfilled implementation of a plan for dust emission reduction.

“The company is continuously implementing the dust suppression measures such as paving of all roadways, water sprinkling and changing of filter bags among other measures prescribed by the agency and line stakeholders,” she said.

Obert Chinhamo, director of the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa, also says the company should not relax but continue to implement more measues on dust emissions reduction.

During the investigation, residents told The NewsHawks that the company’s operations had directly led to deaths due to dust emissions.

Victims include a 32-year-old former employee of SteelMakers Aaron Tatenda Charinya, who died of silicosis early this year.

His family believes dust emissions from Diamond Cement caused the silicosis.The constitution of Zimbabwe, the supreme law of the land, enjoins everyone, including investors, to conform to the bill of rights that guarantees the right to life (section 48), and environmental rights (section 73), among other provisions.

In particular, section 73 of the constitution guarantees environmental rights as follows: “(1) Every person has the right — (a) to an environment that is not harmful”.