By a Correspondent
Hundreds of families living near the expanded Hwange Thermal Power Station remain trapped in a hazardous pollution zone after the government admitted it does not have the more than US$100 million required to relocate them.
Residents of Ingagula Township continue to endure heavy coal dust and other emissions from the power station, despite government assurances that they would be moved to Empumalanga Township following the commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8.
The relocation project has now stalled indefinitely, raising fresh concerns over the health of residents who remain exposed to dust from the coal-fired power station.
Local representatives have warned that prolonged exposure to pollution could increase the risk of respiratory illnesses and other lung-related conditions.
Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo told Parliament that the relocation of Ingagula residents had effectively ground to a halt because the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) does not have sufficient funds to complete the project.
“Unfortunately, ZPC does not have enough money right now to complete the project,” Moyo said, adding that the housing development requires more than US$100 million.
“ZPC is looking for money in the local market. Once they get it, they will start to move those people.”
The project stalled after ZPC failed to make full advance payments to contractors, resulting in their demobilisation.
Critical infrastructure works, including roads, water and sewer networks, have also been suspended.
Moyo said there was no fixed timeline for completing the relocation, warning that relying on piecemeal funding would increase the project’s costs.
The admission has triggered anger among lawmakers, who questioned why residents remain exposed to industrial pollution years after being promised relocation.
Hwange Central MP Fortune Daniel Molokele said a recent visit to Ingagula had exposed the severity of the problem, with residents living in visibly dusty conditions.
“What is being done because the power station has been expanded, the residents have not been moved? They were supposed to have been moved four years ago,” Molokele said.
“Right now, they are inhaling dust and they might suffer from lung-related diseases.”
Concerns over the absence of health monitoring were also raised in Parliament.
Bulawayo Central MP Surrender Kapoikilu questioned whether residents were undergoing regular medical examinations, including pulmonary function tests, to establish the impact of prolonged exposure to pollution.
Moyo, however, surprisingly indicated that he was not aware of any systematic medical monitoring of the affected residents.
The revelations have intensified calls for the government to urgently conduct health assessments, provide medical care where necessary and consider compensation for families who have remained exposed to the industrial environment.
