Every few minutes another haulage truck rattles down Ireland Road in Kadondo of Zvishavane, hauling ore and processed minerals to markets outside Zimbabwe.

For the mining sector it signals growth. For residents, it signals dust, noise and risk.The road has become one of the busiest mineral corridors in the town.

According to a survey, an average of five heavy trucks use Ireland Road every 10 minutes.

Residents say the constant traffic has changed the character of the area.

They allege that many of the trucks travel at excessive speeds, overtake dangerously and generate noise levels that have transformed what was once a quiet residential area into what some now describe as an industrial transport corridor.

The impact is felt from morning until night. From sunrise until late into the evening, clouds of fine dust hang over homes, tuckshops and market stalls.

For parents, safety is now the biggest worry. One resident summed up the fear by saying, “It’s no longer just about the dust,” before adding, “It’s about whether our children can safely cross the road.”

Traders say the problem is also economic.

Vendors along the road report losing customers because goods are constantly coated in dust.

A shop owner described the daily struggle.

She said, “We spend the whole day wiping shelves instead of serving customers,” and explained that, “People see the dust and simply keep walking.”

Health experts warn the consequences go deeper than dirty merchandise.

Prolonged exposure to airborne dust from heavy vehicle traffic can damage the respiratory system.

Fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the lungs, irritating the respiratory system and worsening conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Doctors say certain groups face the greatest risk.

Children, older people and individuals with pre-existing respiratory illnesses are particularly vulnerable because their lungs are either still developing or already weakened.

The effects residents report match those warnings.

Continuous exposure has also been associated with eye irritation, persistent coughing, throat infections and reduced overall air quality.

Residents say the symptoms are now routine.

They report that coughing has become increasingly common, especially during dry weather when dust lingers in the air long after trucks have passed.

The trucks are also damaging infrastructure.

Residents argue that the constant stream of heavily loaded trucks is accelerating the deterioration of Ireland Road while creating dangerous conditions for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The pressure on the road reflects wider growth in Zvishavane.

The town is experiencing unprecedented growth in mining activity.

Expansion in platinum mining, lithium processing and mineral beneficiation has significantly increased freight movement through the town, placing pressure on infrastructure that was never designed to accommodate such volumes of industrial traffic.

Local authorities say they are responding.

Zvishavane Town Council Secretary Desmond Gumbochuma confirmed engagement with the company whose trucks use the route most.

He said the local authority has already engaged the management of the mining and milling company whose trucks frequently use Ireland Road.

According to Gumbochuma, both sides have committed to action.

He stated that both parties have agreed to pursue a sustainable solution aimed at reducing dust pollution while improving road safety along Ireland Road and within the Central Business District.

According to the council, “discussions are now at an advanced stage, with authorities expecting interventions before the end of the week.”

Possible measures under consideration include regular water bowser dust suppression, stricter enforcement of speed limits, improved road maintenance and better traffic management for heavy haulage vehicles.

The situation in Kadondo mirrors a national dilemma.

Mining remains the country’s largest source of export earnings and foreign currency, supporting thousands of jobs and underpinning economic growth.

Yet communities are pushing back.

They increasingly argue that development should not come at the expense of public health and safety.

For policymakers, the task is balancing both needs.

The challenge for policymakers, local authorities and mining companies is not whether minerals should move they must but whether they can do so in a way that protects the communities through which they pass.

For those living along Ireland Road, the demand is simple.

As one resident put it, progress should leave behind opportunity, not dust.