Zimbabwe’s Gold Rush Adds Fuel to a Deadly Surge in Malaria

Mutare, Zimbabwe – In Zimbabwe, open pits left by informal gold miners and filled with stagnant water create breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Health experts say mining is worsening a surge in malaria infections, already spiralling due to funding cuts and climate change.

In Penhalonga, a gold-rich area in eastern Zimbabwe, George Mutsoka woke up one morning suffering from fatigue, a severe headache and joint aches.

The 43-year-old artisanal miner was too weak to work, so he went to rest at his…