GOLD panners are threatening Bulawayo’s already precarious water supplies after digging along the pipeline from Insiza Dam, which they left exposed and vulnerable to vandalism.
Bulawayo residents are going for almost a week without tap water because of a strict water rationing schedule after the city’s dams recorded very low inflows during the 2023/24 rain season that was characterised by the El Nino-induced drought.
Gold panning is rife in the Umzingwane catchment area where the city’s five supply dams area with Umzingwane and Insiza Mayfair dams the most at risk.
According to a report by the Bulawayo City Council tabled at this month’s full council meeting, the department of water and sanitation raised concern that part of the pipeline from Insiza Dam was now exposed as a result of the illegal mining activities.
"This was a serious breach of critical water infrastructure,” reads part of the report.
“Exposing the pipeline in this way made it vulnerable to further damage, contamination, and tampering — all of which would have devastating consequences for the quality and reliability of the city's water supply.
"Water contamination from unregulated activities, introduction of pollutants, or even intentional sabotage was a major risk that must be addressed urgently.
“This situation required an immediate and coordinated response from the city."
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Council recommended that some key steps should be taken section to prevent further damage or tampering, a thorough inspection and risk assessment of the pipeline's condition.
It also resolved to initiate "public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of protecting critical infrastructure”.
“Protecting the city's water resources must be the top priority and prompt action is essential to mitigate the threats posed by this pipeline exposure and ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable drinking water to residents," council said.
"The Umzingwane dam is facing a growing threat from illegal and destructive activities.
“Brick mounding and water theft have become rampant around the dam, compromising its environmental and water security," read the minutes.
"Brick mounding involves the unauthorised extraction of soil and clay from the dam's protected shoreline areas.
“This practice not only strips the land of vital natural resources, but also destabilises the banks and increased siltation within the dam itself."
Council said the widespread theft of water from the dam was compounding the problem.
"It also reduced the overall volume and quality of the water stored in the dam,” the report added.
"The combination of brick moulding and water theft was highly damaging to the long-term health and viability of the Umzingwane dam
"Siltation from the illegal soil extraction would gradually reduce the dam's storage capacity, while water quality degradation jeopardized its usefulness for drinking, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
"The city council must enhance enforcement efforts, impose strict penalties, and work closely with the community to protect this vital water resource.
“Failure to do so risks irreversible harm to the dam's ecosystem and the livelihoods that depend on it."
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart recently asked the police to intensify patrols to help the city council end illegal mining activities along the rivers that feed into the city's supply dams.
