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

The major settlements are the metropolitan area of the Cities of Harare and Chitungwiza, and Chinhoyi and
Norton Towns, with settlements along the road and rail link from Harare to Chinhoyi. Mahuwe Village at the foot
of the Zambezi Escarpment is a growth point for the surrounding Communal Lands.
3.34.1.4 Surface water users
The Cities of Harare and Chitungwiza, including the Harare Thermal Power Station, draw water from the
Manyame River.
Irrigation by commercial agriculture is a major water user above the Zambezi escarpment. There is a large
ARDA estate near Mushumbi Pools, growing cotton under irrigation from the Manyame River.
3.34.1.5 Water management systems
The sub-catchment falls under the Manyame Catchment Council of ZINWA.
3.34.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)
The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:
• Landfills, urban areas of Harare, Chinhoyi, Norton and Chitungwiza (cf. Moyo, 1997, Rakodi, 1995);
• Disposal of liquid effluent, urban areas of Harare and Chitungwiza, which is done into tributaries feeding
Manyame and Chivero Dams (cf. Moyo, 1997, Rakodi, 1995), as well as Chinhoyi and Norton;
• Urban run off, urban areas of Harare, Chinhoyi, Norton and Chitungwiza;
• Non-point domestic effluent, rural areas;
• Non-point impact of agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers, etc), especially where commercial agriculture is
practiced;
• Non-point impact of irrigation in redistribution of river waters;
• Minor non-point impact from sparse subsistence agriculture in the Zambezi valley;
• Fuel loss and litter on the main roads and railways; and
• Run off, Harare International and Charles Prince Airports.
3.34.2 Mining and mineral processing operations
The catchment falls under the Harare Mining District (ZGS, 1995). The main mining activity is chrome mining
along the Great Dyke and some gold mines, now mostly out of production.
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