Kayerekela uranium tailing dams flooded: Water contamination fears high
The continuing heavy rains in Karonga have resulted in the flooding of Paladin’s Kayerekela Uranium Mine tailing dams, a development that has sent shivers of apprehension among water users in the district.
The dams empty into the Sere River which feeds into the Rukuru River and the Lake Malawi.
Ironically, the people of Karonga currently drink from the Lake through the Garnet Halliday Water Project which Paladin Africa Limited (PAL) instituted a couple of years back to curb water hurdles.
While PAL management is mum on the issue, some employees of the mine have cautioned the communities around “to stop drinking water Rivers Sere and Rukuru and Lake Malawi.”
At an interface meeting organised by Church and Society of the Synod of Livingstonia chairperson of the Karonga community which consists 9 villages, Chilirani Gondwe, said some resident were planning on leaving their villages.
“There is panic due to reports that we’re drinking uranium contaminated water,” said Gondwe.
According to Gondwe, it is impossible for them to confirm the development considering strict entry arrangements.
In remarks, the Project Coordinator for Advocacy Campaign for Inclusive Extractive Industry in Malawi under the Church and Society in the Synod of Livingstonia Paul Mvula asked the office of the District Commissioner (DC) to establish an investigation on the matter since it has power to inspect the mine.
“As an organization, we know that neither the community nor us have the right to inspect the Kayerekela Uranium Mine Site apart from the office of the District Commissioner, therefore we are appealing to the DC to come up with a committee to carry out an investigation before the community decide badly,” pleaded Mvula.
He further said “concerned authorities should not underrate this issue by regarding it as hearsays.”
Karonga DC Rosemary Moyo assured the District Civil Protection Committee during an emergency meeting on Wednesday that she will send some people to the site to carry out an investigation.
“I have also heard these rumors but as an office we are yet to know the truth. However, I will send a team to investigate the matter, and I am calling on the community to be calm,” said Moyo.
Paladin Africa Limited is yet to respond to the development as its officials’ phones were out of reach.
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Paladin must return to clean up or pay billions like BP in Nigeria and US. This is what we meant by saying NO to oil drilling. The result is the same because of money hungry.
Am certain the allegation of contamination are true, personally I have been @ the site, (this was an academic trip) the officers @ the site are capable of putting down all efforts of the would be assessors to tell the truth on the matter. My advice is that the citizens should refrain from drinking the said waters or else they risk being exposed to highly radio active substances, I fear for their lives. Tinapasidwa zakudya zamutundu onse & told not to say anything ill of the Org. #Ask-me-more
The picture doesn’t show the dam as over flowing ? Ca someone not take a gieger counter and test the water to see if it is radio active or not? If it is then plans need to be made to filter it, if not then the water is safe ? Or is this too simple
THAT MEANS THERE IS WRONG WITH THE DESIGNS OF MINE DAMS .WHEN DESIGNING MINE DAMS THEY WOULD HAVE TAKE AN ACCOUNT IN TERMS OF RAIN DISASTERS WOULD THE DAMS HOLD THE EXCESS MORE RAIN WATER.THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH SHORT CUT WORK.
Tafa basi
What are these mathafuckaz saying?The uranium that is mined here in Malawi is raw and not proceed for industrial use.It is transported outside Malawi via wavis bay Namibia in that raw state.Raw state uranium is not dangerously radioactive as some of these NGOs making nonsense noise think.Its been there for years and people have been drinking uranium contaminated water for years but because it is not process or not at industrial use grade its not dangerous.Stop this nonsense just get the mining act proper so that these companies should stop stealing our resources so that this county should develop.The mining… Read more »
Disaster! Chambo will now grow to the size of a shark!
I hear some officers at Water Department were palm oiled to let Paladin discharge this first class uranium contaminated wastewater from Kayerekera. Pepani amalawi. Dzikoli Pali anthu ena odzikonda akuwononga. Muli bwanji bwana kaluwa.