Ukulawulwa Kwe-Sodium Cyanide Embonini Yegolide YaseKenya: Ubugebengu Nenkohlakalo

Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi, i-mercury kwakuyikhemikhali eyayikhethwa ngabavukuzi bezandla abamba igolide eKenya. Namuhla, i-sodium cyanide iya ngokuya isetshenziswa ukucubungula insimbi enegolide - inkambiso ebonakala emhlabeni wonke kulokho okuye kwachazwa ngokuthi 'i-cyanide inguquko'.

Kodwa-ke, ubugebengu nenkohlakalo emkhakheni wegolide waseKenya kushiye iziphathimandla zidonsa kanzima ukulawula le khemikhali engase ibe yingozi futhi iqukathe imithelela yayo kwezemvelo. Ucwaningo lwalesi siqeshana lwaluzinze ezifundeni zaseMigori, eNarok, eSiaya naseKakamega, naseNairobi, ngoSepthemba 2021.

Isikhulu sikahulumeni waseKenya saqoqa isampula lamanzi esigodini sase-Kowuor, esifundeni saseMigori, ngo-September 2021. Izakhamuzi zazikholelwa ukuthi ukufa okungazelelwe kwemfuyo eminingana kungase kuhlotshaniswe nendawo eseduze yokucwiliswa kwegolide kanye nokusetshenziswa kwendle. I-Sodium Cyanide.

Ukushintshela ku I-sodium cyanide

I-sodium cyanide iphumelela kakhulu ekucubunguleni insimbi yegolide yezinga eliphansi kune-mercury. Ukusebenzisa i-mercury kungathola phakathi kuka-25% no-50%, umkhawulo wegolide u-60%, kodwa nge-cyanide, umuntu angathola u-95% noma u-100% wegolide etsheni. Lokhu kusho ukuthi 'umsila' onqwabelene ovela ekukhishweni kwegolide - okuqhubekayo eKenya kusukela ngesikhathi sobukoloni - iyisaga semayini yegolide kanye nozibuthe wamafemu afuna ukwenza 'igolide', inqubo yokukhipha igolide kulo mkhiqizo kadoti.

Kodwa-ke, eziningi zalezi zingosi zokuhushula zisebenza ngokungemthetho. Lapho kunomsila owanele wokusekela indawo yokugezela, abantu bavame ukwakha eyodwa ngokushesha, basebenze ekuthungeni isila kusukela endaweni izinyanga eziyisithupha kuya onyakeni. Uma indawo isiphelile, badlulela endaweni elandelayo. Lokhu kugwema ukuhlolwa kukahulumeni… [izizinda] eziningi azikho emthethweni. Kungakho kunezindawo ezileaching ezindaweni zasemadolobheni ukuze kuqedelwe uhlelo olusuka ezindaweni ezingekho emthethweni.

Kwesinye isikhathi iziphathimandla zibikelwa kuphela ukuthi kunendawo lapho abashayeli sebedlulele phambili ngemuva kokuqeda umsila endaweni. Kuba nzima ukuqala ukubheka ukuthi i-cyanide ingayekiswa kanjani ukusebenza uma bengekho abantu abasemthethweni [okungalandelelwa futhi bathweswe icala].

Nokho impilo yemiphakathi yendawo kanye nemfuyo yayo ibekwa engcupheni uma izimiso eziqinile ezidingekayo zokuqinisekisa ukuthi i-sodium cyanide isetshenziswa ngokuphephile azinakwa, njengoba ikhemikhali ingangcolisa imithombo yamanzi. Eziningi zezindawo zokucwila zesikhashana ezichazwe zibe yimbangela yokulimala kwemvelo, njengoba zishiywa zinganakiwe. Kodwa-ke, ngalesi sikhathi, amaqembu ahlambalaza asethuthele kwezinye izingosi, angashiyi indlela yokuba abahlali babenze baphendule.

Ngaphambilini, bekunemizamo yokulawula i-mercury egolide-umkhakha wezimayini, ikakhulukazi ngenxa yemiphumela yezobuciko kanye [yezimayini] endaweni ezungezile. Kwabe sekungena i-sodium cyanide futhi umthelela wayo [kwezempilo] ushesha kakhulu.

Ubunikazi obungacacile nezinkinga zamalayisense

Iningi labatshalizimali abasebenzisa amasayithi okuleaching ngokungemthetho basola iziphathimandla ngokwenza ukuthi kungenzeki ukuthi zisebenze ngokusemthethweni, ngenxa yokubambezeleka kokugunyazwa kwamalayisensi ezindawo ezileaching, ngaphezu kwenkohlakalo nokugxambukela kwezombusazwe. Ukuthola ilayisense kungathatha iminyaka emibili - noma amasayithi ngokwawo angathatha izinyanga ezimbalwa ukuthi asulwe. Isibonelo, isifunda saseMigori kubikwa ukuthi sinezindawo ezinelayisensi ezisemthethweni ezingu-10 kodwa izicelo ezingu-40 ezilindele ukugunyazwa kusukela ngo-September 2021. Iningi lamasayithi asebenza esifundeni akukho emthethweni.

Kushoda izinsiza eminyangweni efanele. Isibonelo, izikhulu ezimbalwa zoMnyango Wezesayensi Yezwe ziqondisa izifunda zaseMigori, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira kanye neNarok, ezihlanganisa isifunda esikhulu sokumba igolide. Lokhu kwenza kube nzima ukuhlonza nokulawula izindawo ezileaching. Ezinhlolovo, izingosi ezingekho emthethweni zivame ukutholakala. Iziphathimandla zivame ukunikeza abaqhubi isikhathi sokufaka isicelo [selayisensi] noma bavale futhi bathembele emaphoyiseni ukuthi enze le miyalo.

Lesi simo senza ubunikazi nokuphathwa kwezindawo ezihunyushwayo kungabonakali emiphakathini ezungezile: ngokuvamile amagama ezinkampani, abaqondisi noma ubunikazi bokugcina bezindawo abaziwa. Bambalwa abasebenzi bendawo - umsebenzi omningi onamakhono uhlinzekwa ngabasebenzi abavela phesheya kwezilwandle - futhi bavame ukukhokhelwa ngemali, okushiya umkhondo wephepha omncane. Abantu abaningi bendawo baqamba isiza ngegama leningi labantu bangaphandle abasebenza lapho, okungaba yizakhamuzi zaseTanzania, zaseNdiya noma zaseShayina.

Inkohlakalo nodlame emkhakheni wegolide

Abantu embonini bathi osopolitiki bavame ukuhlomula kakhulu ebhizinisini. NgoSepthemba 2019. ukusebenza kweziphathimandla esifundeni saseMigori kwaholela ekuvaleni izimayini zegolide ezingaphezu kuka-40 ezisebenza ngokungemthetho, okuhlanganisa nezimbili okubikwa ukuthi zilawulwa isikhulu sesifunda sezinga eliphezulu. Lokhu kuthiwa kuyinkomba yemboni namuhla.

Umabhalane wefemu yezomthetho uthe izindawo eziningi zokugebenga ziphethwe abantu abaxhumene nezepolitiki, okuvumela ukuthi izinqubo zishaywe indiva lapho kwakhiwa izivumelwano futhi kuthengwa umhlaba. Ngonyaka odlule, isivumelwano sokudayiswa komhlaba senziwa ngabanye abahwebi baseNdiya besebenzisa inkampani eyayithenga indawo endaweni. Lapho umabhalane ebhikishela ukuthi kungaba emthethweni ukufaka ukucwiliswa kwegolide njengethemba lokuthi bazokwenzenjani emhlabeni, bagcizelele ukuthi isivumelwano sizodlula ngoba besekwa yizikhulu eziphezulu zikahulumeni. Impela, ezinyangeni eziyisithupha kamuva isitshalo sokucwilisa sasivukile futhi sisebenza.

Ukusebenza ngaphandle kwesistimu yezomthetho kuphinde kwashiya amasayithi e-leaching engcupheni enkulu yokungqubuzana, njengoba izingxabano zamadili egolide nezimbangi phakathi kosomabhizinisi zibonakaliswa ngodlame kunezinkantolo.

Esinye isigameko esifana nalesi senzeka mhla ziyi-18 kuNdasa wezi-2021. lapho amadoda ahlomile ayegqoke umfaniswano wamaphoyisa e-General Service Unit (amaphoyisa aseKenya) ehlasela indawo yokuchetshwa kwegolide e-Isebania, eduze nomngcele waseTanzania. Ingxenye yalokhu kugasela yathwetshulwa ngocingo lwe-CCTV emagcekeni kasomabhizinisi, owathi amaphoyisa antshontshe amakhilogremu angu-2.5 egolide elibiza u-11 million wamasheleni aseKenya (Ksh) kanye nemali engu-Ksh2 million (imali elinganiselwa ku-US$95 000 kanye ne-US$17 000. ngokulandelana).

Afike ngemoto yohlobo lweToyota Land Cruiser engaziwa, amaphoyisa adlulele lapho kucwiliswa khona angena ngenkani eqa isango, ashaya abasebenzi abathathu, athumba isikhashana abanye ababili. Ahlukumeza amadoda futhi angena ngenkani endlini ephephile. Babe sebedlulela endaweni yokucima ukoma eseduze yomthengisi ofanayo, baqala nokushaya abathengi, base behamba.

Ummeli omele usomabhizini uthe amaphoyisa aseMigori noma esiteshini esiseduze sase-Isebania abenolwazi ngalokhu kugasela nokuthi bazoluqhuba udaba nohulumeni. Kamuva lo somabhizinisi wabekwa icala lokweqa intela yiKenya Revenue Authority eNkantolo eNkulu yaseKisii. Wayefisa ukwazi ukuthi ingakanani intela ayeyikweleta uhulumeni noma yimuphi umthetho ayephulile ukuze avumele lolu hlobo lokuhlasela kwamasosha [amasosha] hhayi amaphoyisa avamile, ayengena ngaphandle kwencwadi yokusesha noma azihluphe ngokumtshela ukuthi kwenzekeni. Ubekwe icala enkantolo, kodwa bekungakacaci. Kusukela ekuhlaselweni, usomabhizinisi ulahlekelwe amakhasimende, abalingani bebhizinisi kanye nokwethenjwa; uye waphoqeleka ukuthi avale indawo futhi wehle kakhulu ekutshalweni kwegolide.

Nalapha kukhona isiphakamiso sokuthi lokhu kuxhumene nepolitiki. Imithombo ejwayelene nesizinda sokushushumbisa (ekhuluma ngombandela wokudalulwa igama) ithe isetshenziswe njengesandulela sezikhulu zikahulumeni wesifunda saseMigori kanye nosopolitiki bendawo. Lokhu kugasela kungenzeka kube wumphumela wokungaboni ngaso linye phakathi kwala maqembu, njengoba uhulumeni wasekhaya ubengazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani, aphakamisa ukuthi umyalelo wokugasela usuka phezulu.

Ingozi yodlame - ezingxabanweni phakathi kwezimbangi zebhizinisi noma iziphathimandla ezikhohlakele - yenze ukuthi amasayithi okuhweba asebenza kanjani. Ukuze uthole ukuphepha, abantu bavame ukusebenzisa izikhungo zasemadolobheni ukucwilisa noma ukuphothula inqubo yokuhlanza igolide ezindaweni zokucwiliswa, ngoba ezindaweni zasemakhaya, ukuhlaselwa yizigebengu kulula. Iziza eziningi zasemadolobheni zinezindonga eziphakeme zepherimitha yezitini nodaka, insingo noma intambo ephilayo phezulu kanye namasango amaningana nezigaba ezivalelwe ukuze kuvikeleke.

Amaketanga wokuhlinzeka nge-Cyanide

Bonke labo abasembonini ye-leaching babike ukuthi i-sodium cyanide ayivamile ukuthengwa eKenya, ngenxa yemithetho eqinile mayelana nokuphathwa kwayo nokuthutha. Isibonelo, ngaphansi komthetho waseKenya, i-cyanide kufanele ihanjiswe ngemoto ephawulwe obala ekhombisa okuqukethwe kwayo, okudonsa ukunakwa okungafuneki kumasayithi aleaching asebenza ngokungemthetho.

Kunalokho, leli khemikhali livame ukushushumbiswa lisuka eTanzania. Ama-Tanzania ane-chokehold control emizileni ye-cyanide, i-mercury ne-sulfuric acid ezimayini zegolide eKenya; bakwazile ukugwema zonke izintela okufanele zikhokhwe [ngokusebenzisa] imizila yokushushumbisa… ithani le-cyanide liphakathi kuka-Ksh400 000 no-Ksh500 000 [US$3 400–US$4 300], futhi liye lahlala lingashintshile isikhathi eside. Abanye bazamile ukungenisa amakhemikhali e-Uganda… lapho benenzalo yegolide, [kodwa] izintela kanye nokusebenzelana nohulumeni kubeka ithani le-cyanide ku-Ksh600 000–Ksh700 000 [US$5 100–US$6 000], nezindleko ezengeziwe uma zithuthwa ngokukhululekile eKenya.

Uma ikhemikhali isithengiwe eTanzania, idluliselwa emathangeni amancane avalwe cishe amalitha ayi-120-200 ngaphesheya komngcele. Abantu basebenzisa ngokuqinile amaveni amancane anamafasitela anombala ukuthutha amakhemikhali ngemizila yokushushumbisa. Amaveni amancane - ngokungafani namaloli asetshenziselwa ukushushumbisa eminye imikhiqizo - akhethwa ngoba into inobuthi futhi kufanele iphathwe ngokucophelela.

Isikhulu se-geology esifundeni saseMigori siphinde saqinisekisa ukuthi iningi le-sodium cyanide namakhono okuyisebenzisa kuvela eTanzania eseduze, lapho kade isetshenziswa khona. Lokhu kuthembela kumaketanga okunikezela aseTanzania kusho ukuthi iziza eziningi eKenya zilawulwa eTanzania.

Ingozi yethuba eligejiwe?

'Inguquko ye-cyanide' ingaba yithuba elihle kakhulu emkhakheni wezimayini waseKenya, okuvumela amabhizinisi ukuthi asebenzise lokho okuwumkhiqizo owudoti ngendlela enenzuzo. Kodwa-ke, ubugebengu emkhakheni, izintshisekelo zezepolitiki kanye nokusetshenziswa kodlame kuguqula leli thuba libe yingozi.

Umkhuzi wamaphoyisa, isikhulu se-ejensi yemvelo kanye nesikhulu se-geology esifundeni sase-Migori bonke bayavuma ukuthi umzamo kuyo yonke iminyango kahulumeni wase-Kenya yokulawula ukusetshenziswa kwe-leaching kanye nokusetshenziswa kwe-cyanide yisu elingcono kakhulu lokuletha uzinzo kulo mkhakha. Amaphoyisa angabopha, kodwa adinga ongoti beminye iminyango ukuze baqinisekise ukuthi kunomsebenzi owenziwa yonke indawo ozosiza emacaleni ezinkantolo.

Okwamanje, inqobo nje uma lezi zinto ezinobuthi zisasetshenziswa amaqembu asebenza ngaphandle komthetho, impilo yemiphakathi yaseKenya kanye nemfuyo isengozini.

Disclaimer

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