Two donkeys died instantly after drinking water from a rural Kwekwe community borehole leading the owner to raise an alarm that borehole water was poisoned.
“I can confirm that we rushed to Munyathi where we collected samples for testing and they indeed tested positive for poisoning. We also advised the community to stop using the borehole until a solution is found,” said Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Kwekwe District Officer Daniel Magombedze
Magombedze confirmed that the poison had been identified as cyanide.
Medical experts say that death after ingesting cyanide is almost instant occurring within three minutes. Survival is rare unless only a very small amount has been taken. Cynaide gas is used for delivering the death sentence in some US states.
The affected borehole is in Ward 31 in Munyathi, Kwekwe and has since been disconnected to ensure that no one has access to the poisoned water.
The area councillor raised suspicions of foul play: “This is a very unfortunate incident as we are yet to know the culprit and the intentions behind such an act,” Ward 31 Clr Tichafa Chitate said.
An environment activist with a local NGO who spoke to Zim Now said that if the borehole is fully covered then it is important to consider that that the poison in the water might not have been deliberately thrown in by any unidentified suspects with nefarious intend.
“Cyanide has many uses and sometimes it is not properly disposed of because users are ignorant or just negligent. So where you have cyanide poisoning of underground water, it is prudent to think of seepage, as well as a human putting the substance into the water source.”
The activist said until the source of the poison is known, all water sources in the area should be treated as potential hazards.
“So I hope someone has alerted the people in the community to be cautious of all other water sources. And that they are also seriously investigating contamination from other sources like mining, legal or illegal, nearby,” the activist said.
She declined to be named saying that without full information it is difficult to take an official position.
Online sources say cyanide has several industrial uses with salts used in metallurgy for electroplating, metal cleaning, and removing gold from its ore. Cyanide is also used to make paper, textiles, and plastics. It is present in the chemicals used to develop photographs. Cyanide gas is used to exterminate pests and vermin in ships and buildings.
Zimbabwe has previously experienced deliberate poisoning of water sources in national parks by poachers after elephant and rhino horns.
Clr Chitate told the media that the affected villagers will now have to walk a long distance to the next borehole.
“The villagers are now facing acute water challenges as the next borehole is far from them. The situation is even worse for livestock,” he said.
“But we are working with relevant authorities so that the situation be addressed as soon as possible,” said Clr Chitate.
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