A Zimbabwean rubbish dump is polluting a major source of water for the central Mozambican province of Manica, according to a report in Tuesday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”.The rubbish dump, in the eastern Zimbabwean city of Mutare, was set up 60 years ago by the British colonial authorities, at the spot where the Munene river has its source. The Munene is a tributary of the Revue river, which supplies water to the Manica provincial capital, Chimoio, Manica town and the municipality of Gondola.Natercia Nhabanga, the Manica Provincial Director for the Environment, describes the situation as very serious, since all manner of waste is deposited at the Mutare dump, including industrial waste and hospital waste.The water from the Munene flows into the Revue and then into the reservoir of the Chicamba dam, which is an important fishing centre and provides drinking water for the main urban centres of the province.The pollution of the Munene was first raised by the mayor of Manica town, Moguene Candieiro, in 2009, and in 2010 the governor of the province, Ana Comoane, set up a technical commission to investigate the matter.That commission has visited Mutare and the rubbish dump several times, and has met with the Mutare municipal authorities.Nhabanga said that the Mutare authorities have recognised the seriousness of the problem, but said that, due to Zimbabwe’s financial and economic problems, there is no short or medium term solution.However, they also said they were looking for a new site for the dump. Contacts have been made with South Africa, which could send experts to help Mutare municipality remove or destroy the dump.
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