Jane Nkiwane
Bulawayo City Council Town Clerk Christopher Dube has refuted rumours circulating on social media about the presence of cyanide contamination in the city’s water sources. He assured residents that the water is safe to use and that there is no evidence of contamination by the harmful chemical cyanide.
Cyanide is a poisonous chemical that occurs in various forms. Most cyanide in the environment results from industrial activities or improper disposal.Exposure to cyanide can cause life-threatening effects via inhalation, skin absorption, or ingestion, leading to symptoms such as respiratory problems, brain damage, injury to the central nervous system, nausea, vomiting, and death.
According to Town Clerk Dube, laboratory tests have been conducted on water samples from the city’s dams, confirming that there are no detectable levels of cyanide or any other harmful chemicals. “The water continues to be safe for all domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses,” he confirmed in a press statement.
The rumours originated from messages and news articles on social media, which misinterpreted concerns raised by councillors and members of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee. These concerns were about mining activities at Alice Farm in Umzingwane District. Heap leach pads, which facilitate the extraction of precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper from ore using chemicals like cyanide, were being constructed in the area. To address these concerns, a visit was made to the heap leach pad in Umzingwane District near Upper Ncema to assess the potential environmental impact.
Assuring Bulawayo residents, Town Clerk Dube stated, “We want to assure the public that there is no evidence of any such contamination. The city is closely monitoring the situation and will take necessary precautions to safeguard the water supply. We ask that the public remains vigilant but avoids falling prey to misinformation circulating on social media platforms.”
Residents are urged to rely on official communication platforms from the City of Bulawayo regarding the status of the water supply.
