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OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

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3.25.1.4 Surface water users<br />

The City of Bulawayo draws water from the Khami and Mguza Rivers (tributaries of the upper Gwayi River:<br />

Zones G3 and G5 of Area A (ZSG, 1984). Bulawayo also extracts considerable water from the Nyamandhlovu<br />

Aquifer, which may have a deleterious affect on water levels in rivers in Zones G4, G5 and G6 (ZSG, 1984).<br />

Irrigation by commercial agriculture is a major water user in Zones S5, S6 (note Shangani Tiyabenzi Dam), B3,<br />

G3, G4, G5 and G6 (ZSG, 1984). There are major irrigation projects in the middle Shangani valley, notably the<br />

rice project (Zones S2 and S4 in ZSG (1984)).<br />

3.25.1.5 Water management systems<br />

The sub-catchment falls under the Gwayi Catchment Council of ZINWA. This sub-catchment is also the site of<br />

the proposed Zambezi Bulawayo Pipeline Project, which is scheme designed to extract water from the Zambezi<br />

River and transport it by pipeline across the Gwayi Sub-catchment to Lupane, Nyamandhlovu and ultimately the<br />

water-stressed City of Bulawayo.<br />

3.25.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)<br />

The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:<br />

• Landfills, urban areas of Bulawayo, Gweru, Lupane, Dete and Kamativi;<br />

• Disposal of liquid effluent, urban areas of Bulawayo, Gweru, Lupane, Dete and Kamativi;<br />

• Urban run off, urban areas of Bulawayo, Gweru, Lupane, Dete and Kamativi;<br />

• Non-point domestic effluent, rural areas;<br />

• Non-point impact of agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers, etc), especially in the south and southeast where<br />

commercial agriculture is practiced;<br />

• Non-point impact of irrigation in redistribution of river waters;<br />

• Minor non point impact from sparse, subsistence agriculture in Communal lands;<br />

• Sawmills, Gwayi Forest Land and neighbouring Forest Lands;<br />

• Fuel loss and litter on the main roads and railways;<br />

• Run off, Bulawayo International Airport, Induna Airport (Bulawayo) and Moffat Airport (Gweru); and<br />

• Non-point impact from minefield in far north.<br />

3.25.2 Mining and mineral processing operations<br />

clviii

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