Tanzania Health and Social Welfare Minister Ignore Deaths from River Contamination?
For the past eight years villagers in Nyamongo, Tanzania suffered from 300 Cow deaths and 30 human deaths from contamination in the Tigite River due to leakage from the North Mara Gold Mine’s tailing ponds. Patty Magubira writes an article about the calling for resignation of the Social Welfare minister who allegedly ignored health problems from protesting villagers.
The former storekeeper of the mine knowingly admitted that mine has been leaking toxic waste into tailing ponds due to poor construction of liner fences. The Tigite river was also contaminated due to potential acid forming (PAF) rocks whose dust drifted downstream. This has led to serious diseases and illnesses among villagers some including tuberculosis.
Also when the mine was first being built, it was promised that their profits would fund for the vilages’ roads, schools hostpitals etc. These promises were not kept. Tension between villagers and the mine’s operation manager has risen. To read more about this issue go to http://allafrica.com/stories/200907070854.html