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During the past fourteen years there have been 23 reported
cases of TB and 43 cases of skin disease. However, the number
of cases could be more, because not all cases are reported and
attended at the dispensary. The problem of dust pollution and
its health implications seems, however, to be viewed differently
by the people who live in the area. There are those who perceive
this situation as a normal problem like any other. These people
indicated that they have been performing quarrying activities
in the area with their families for some time, and they do not see
any risk attached to staying in the area. One respondent said:
“Why do you think that we are being affected by dust that
comes out of the quarrying activities? Even the moving cars
along the earth roads produce dust, and yet people still board
the cars.”
Other people observed that staying in the area puts them at
high risk, as most of the time they breathe air that is polluted by
dust from mining operations. The narration above shows that
disaster risk in the area is viewed relatively, especially by those
who are affected.
A survey of nearby settlements revealed that ongoing quarrying
activities in the Kunduchi quarry site affect these settlements too.
People in these settlements, which include Tegeta, Mbezi Salasala
and Kunduchi Mtongani, indicated that they are very much
affected by dust pollution from the quarrying operations.
According to them, they have submitted requests several times
to the responsible authorities to have the quarrying activities
closed, but no action has so far been taken.
In facilitating the extraction of stones, gravel and crush dust
for building and construction purposes, both the mining compa-
nies and small-scale miners use explosive materials (dynamite).
In most cases this practice results in property damage and risk to
human life. Several cases of property damage and injuries to
people from explosive materials were reported. Whereas the sub-
ward office indicated about five cases of death for the past five
years, some residents indicated three cases and others said that
there have been more that five deaths. With respect to injuries,
they said that there have been many cases. One respondent said
that he witnessed somebody die after being hit by a stone. More
than ten cases of damage to houses from explosive materials were
reported. It was, however, revealed that there are many other cases
in which houses and nearby settlements have been damaged by
the effects of explosions. When expressing his views on this issue,
one respondent said: “We are staying in an environment which
is full of uncertainties because, at any time, one can be hit by a
stone and die or get a physical disability.”
Since the explosion of rocks is done in daytime, during which
children are playing within the settlement, this group of people
seems to be more vulnerable and at high risk of being hit by the
explosive materials/particles. It was reported that there was a time
when one mining company was using heavy dynamite. Before an
explosion, the company had to stop the moving vehicles to avoid
damage and injuries to the people on board. One respondent
who owns a house in the nearby settlement, about 500km away
from the case study area, said: “The people who stay within this
quarry site must be staying in fear. Can you imagine one day I
went to see my house, only to find that it had a very big hole on
the roof? When I asked what transpired, I was told that a big
stone resulting from the explosive rocks in the quarry site hit a
roof and destructed the iron sheet and cycling board, leaving a
hole.”
One service in the area which is notable for posing a health
risk to the people is poor sanitation. The people of the area use
pit latrines, but not all households have access to one – indeed,
54 per cent of households were found neither to have nor to use
pit latrines. Instead, they use small bushes and open pits. This
situation is much exacerbated by small-scale miners who come
from outside the settlement. Observation revealed the presence
of human waste within open pits and small bushes. It is obvious
that whenever it rains, this human waste gets mixed with rain-
water and can contaminate the area. Though there were no
reported cases of death resulting from poor sanitation (for
example, from cholera), it is worth noting that this unhealthy
situation will eventually lead to loss of lives unless mitigation
measures are taken. As in the case of the other risks discussed,
children seem to be more vulnerable to this unhealthy living envi-
ronment because of their tendency to play in the standing water.
Following unregulated mining activities in Kunduchi, the area
is now experiencing a very serious problem of environmental
degradation. In view of the extent of degradation, it is obvious
that restoration of the area to its normal condition would involve
a substantial amount of resources. Observable indicators of envi-
ronmental degradation in the area include a substantial loss of
vegetative cover and extensive pit holes throughout the area.
This unhealthy living environment has necessitated that resi-
dents adopt coping strategies to minimize the impacts of dust
pollution. The most remarkable strategy observed in the settle-
ment, which the residents pointed out during interviews, is tree
planting around the compounds. The importance of trees as filters
for air seems to be well understood by some of the residents
within the study area.
Despite this initiative, air pollution remains a problem.
Observations made in the housing units where trees are planted
revealed the accumulation of dust on the walls, windows and
doors. The majority of residents interviewed indicated that plant-
ing trees was not a very effective solution for preventing dust
pollution in the area. Tree planting covers only part of the
community, which has been developed over the past five years
or more. New areas, which have been developed into residential
spaces in recent years, are predominantly bare of trees, and are
therefore affected more by dust.
Evidence shows that explosive materials used to break down
stones are widely used by both small-scale miners and mining
companies. As a result, this practice causes death and injuries to
people as well as damage to properties. As a way of avoiding death
and injuries to people, whenever the mining companies apply
dynamites, they blow a whistle to alert people to take precau-
tionary measures. The small-scale miners shout loudly to alert
people. One respondent observed: “When they blow a whistle
to alert us we move out of our houses and go to a visible place
so that whenever a stone comes we can see it and take precau-
tions.”
However, this strategy seems to be of little help, as cases of
injuries to people and properties persist. Opinions differed regard-
ing appropriate measures in ensuring the safety of people and
their property. Some proposed the closure of the mining activities,
as the current practices of blowing a whistle and shouting do not
ensure their safety, especially the safety of children. One respon-
dent questioned the efficacy of these alerts, saying: “Even if they
blow the whistle and shout, can the children take precautionary
measures when they are alone?”
Others who associate mining activity with their livelihoods indi-
cated that closing down the activities would have a serious impact
on their way of living, as the majority of them were dependent
on this activity to earn their living.
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