RESIDENTS of Cindrella suburb in Hwange, Matabeleland North province have petitioned the Environment Management Agency (Ema) to take action against Chinese coal mining company Zhong Jian for polluting the environment.
Greater Whange Residents Trust co-ordinator, Fidelis Chima, said they received complaints from locals about air pollution caused by the company’s trucks as they drive through the area.
“They said this is causing serious levels of air pollution. The haulage trucks and where coal is deposited are causing unprecedented air pollution to Cinderella,” Chima said.
“We approached Ema to intervene and if the air pollution levels persist, we will be forced to approach courts for remedy.
“We still strongly advocate for investment in renewable energy and gradual scaling down of investment in fossil fuels such as coal that is contributing a lot to global warming and also that air pollution is causing unprecedented deaths the world over.”
Matabeleland North Ema provincial manager Chipo Mpofu-Zuze, said she was busy when contacted for comment.
“The whole of last week I was out of office and now I am working on going out to Binga where I will be back after I don't know when,” she said.
Zhong Jian human resources manager, Sibongile Mindu, said she was not aware of the complaints.
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“I am not yet aware of that. Zhong Jian is a big company with many departments. I am in the human resources department, so I will need to talk to other departments to find out what is happening,” Mindu said.
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