In Tarime district, Tanzania, small-scale gold miners have used river water in extracting the metal. Gold extraction requires mercury, which is poisonous, and is washed into the river.
Kwinya miners cooperative society secretary general Michael Mwita said, “We previously did not know we were polluting the Mara River by allowing water and chemicals we use to return to the river.” Even women are busy exploring.
The Kwinya cooperative society started exploring gold in 2015 behind the hills within Kerende area. Miners use crude and dangerous methods to explore. “Lack of funds has slowed our work, but we are now getting small money from our work,” Mwita said.
Since they work in a hilly area, every time it rains, water washes sand and mercury into the river. This adds the pressure to the once mighty river, posing serious threats.
Mwita declined to say how miners obtain deadly mercury. “We do not know where the mercury comes from but when we need it, we get it,” he said.
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