Illegal gold processing threatens Kasempa water supply

Mufwashi Member of Parliament Brian Kakonkanya says illegal gold processing activities have blocked the Dengwe Stream, a key water source for Kasempa District, threatening water supply to the district’s treatment plant as the dry season approaches. Mr Kakonkanya said the Dengwe…

Mufwashi Member of Parliament Brian Kakonkanya says illegal gold processing activities have blocked the Dengwe Stream, a key water source for Kasempa District, threatening water supply to the district’s treatment plant as the dry season approaches.

Mr Kakonkanya said the Dengwe Stream is a major source of water for Kasempa, with water flowing downstream to the treatment plant operated by North-Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company.

He said this today when he inspected the Dengwe Stream in Kasempa.

Mr Kakonkanya described the situation as unfortunate, warning that the extent of the blockage poses a serious threat to communities that depend on the water downstream, particularly as the dry season is expected to begin in October.

“What we have seen today is quite unfortunate. Dengwe is a major source of water for Kasempa District and downstream is where we have the water treatment plant, where the North-Western Water Supply and Sanitation Company treats water for supply to the district,” he said.

Mr Kakonkanya said the blockage was a direct result of illegal gold processing activities and should not be allowed to continue.

He said the situation demonstrates the dangers of illegal gold mining, particularly where environmental safeguards are not observed.

“This is purely the effect of illegal gold mining and when the President stands strong to talk against illegal gold mining, this is exactly what he means, because this is going to affect many lives,” he said.

Mr Kakonkanya said clearing the blockage would require resources, adding that the situation could have been avoided if action had been taken earlier.

He, however, proposed that miners be organised into groups and provided with designated and controlled areas where they could undertake gold processing without damaging water sources.

Mr Kakonkanya stressed that such measures should not be viewed as government support for illegal mining, but rather as an effort to balance livelihoods with environmental protection and the need to safeguard water sources.

“What we don’t want is to encourage illegal activities. They have no space in the new government, and we appeal strongly to our colleagues doing this, because it’s dangerous,  no proper environmental safeguards have been considered here,” he said.

Mr Kakonkanya has since urged Kasempa District authorities to urgently engage relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution and restore the stream to normal flow.