For many residents of Hwange’s Makwika suburb — commonly known as Number Three, going to the nearby bushes is not a place for leisure, but the only option left to relieve themselves when communal toilets are broken, locked or unusable.
The area carries a hidden danger. Beneath the coal-dusted ground, underground fires continue to burn silently — a legacy of decades of coal mining.
It was here that nine-year-old Alicia Sekina Muzwiti lost her life after stepping onto a patch of ground that appeared normal but was burning beneath the surface.
Hwange has long struggled with underground coal seam fires, which ignite when exposed coal reacts with oxygen and moisture. The fires can smoulder just centimetres below the surface, making them difficult to detect. The ground can suddenly collapse or burn through skin.
The danger is worsened by the daily routines forced on residents by poor sanitation. Many communal toilets in Makwika are damaged, filthy or without water, forcing families — including children — to use the surrounding bushes. The area is littered with human waste, rubbish and coal residue from nearby dumps.
Alicia had walked there with relatives and a friend to relieve themselves when tragedy struck. While playing, she ran to pick up a shoe that had been thrown aside. The ground beneath her feet suddenly burned, causing severe injuries to her legs, hands and body.
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She was rushed home before being taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital and later transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. Doctors battled to save her life as the burns destroyed tissue in her limbs. Despite several procedures, including amputations in an effort to stop the damage, Alicia died after three weeks in hospital.
Her death has left her family devastated and struggling to cope with medical and funeral expenses. They say assistance received was minimal and attempts to pursue legal help have been difficult due to lack of resources and knowledge about the legal process.
For residents of Makwika, Alicia’s death highlights a wider crisis. Underground fires continue to threaten homes, crops and health. Some households report cracked walls, polluted water sources and persistent smoke that causes respiratory problems.
Environmental groups warn that the fires contaminate soil, water and air while making the ground unstable. Despite directives from authorities for responsible mining companies to map and secure dangerous zones, residents say little has changed.
Community leaders fear more lives could be lost if the hazards remain unaddressed. For Alicia’s family and neighbours, the danger is not theoretical — it lies beneath the same path children still walk every day.