GOLD MINING IS DESTROYING BOTEREKWA

Boterekwa is a place in Zimbabwe that used to be beautiful. It had green trees, clean rivers, and fresh air. But now, everything has changed. The land is dry, rivers are dirty, and there are big holes everywhere. This is because of gold mining.

Collins Mnangagwa, the son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is behind this. He runs a company called Chengxi Mining (Pvt) Ltd. This company is owned by people from China. Collins Mnangagwa is a very rich man because of this mining, but the land is suffering.

People in the area are very sad. They see the land being destroyed every day. Machines make loud noises all the time. The air smells bad because of the chemicals used to find gold. One of these chemicals is cyanide. It is very dangerous. The rivers, which used to have clean water, are now full of dirty and dangerous water.

Collins Mnangagwa travels to China a lot. He makes deals that give him more money. But the people of Boterekwa get nothing. The hills that used to be green and full of life now look dead.

President Mnangagwa knows about this problem. When he goes to his home in Zvishavane, he passes through Boterekwa. He can see the destruction. But nothing is being done to stop it. The ruling party, Zanu PF, has even accepted gifts from Chengxi. They have received office spaces from the company. This shows that politics and mining are connected.

Many people are angry. They want something to be done. Gold mining in the area started long ago, in 2011. At first, the government tried to stop it. But now, it is happening again, worse than before. Some fines have been given to the miners, but they keep working. The damage is getting worse every day.

Experts say that if nothing is done, Boterekwa will never be the same again. The land will not grow plants. The animals will disappear. The people who live there will continue to suffer. The heavy machines do not stop. Every day, they dig more holes in the ground.

Local leaders, like Chief Nhema, have spoken out. They have asked the government to stop the mining. But nothing serious has been done. The mining companies have powerful friends in the government.

Chengxi Mining has broken many rules. When they got permission to mine, they were not supposed to dig big open holes. But they did it anyway. They also promised to take care of their waste, but they did not. Now, the people and animals in Boterekwa are in danger.

Collins Mnangagwa does not try to hide his business. He is often seen at Zanu PF events. This makes people feel like he cannot be stopped. His company keeps mining, and the land keeps getting worse.

Boterekwa is now a sad place. It is a sign of what happens when people care more about money than the environment. Many people are calling for change. They want mining to be done in a way that does not destroy the land. But will anyone listen? Or will Boterekwa be lost forever?