Waterworks poison saga deepens

POLICE have arrested a manager with a local transport company over the delivery of toxic sodium cyanide to Harare's main waterworks last week.
The arrest came as Government yesterday appointed a seven-member team to investigate the matter.
Farai Muchenje, a logistics manager with Pair Trade Investments, is expected to appear in court today facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
Sources close to the investigations said Muchenje was by last night still assisting police with investigations.
They said investigations will continue until all people involved were brought to book.
Said police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena: "One person has been picked up in connection with the case and he is still assisting with investigations."
Announcing the seven-member team at a Press conference, Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo ordered that all water treatment chemicals be checked at the warehouse before delivery.
This came after council admitted that wrong and sub-standard chemicals have been delivered on numerous occasions.
Director of Civil Protection Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira will head the probe team and be deputised by former Masvingo town clerk Mr Tsungai Mhangami. Mrs Florence Ziyambe from the Attorney-General's Office is part of the team.
Other members are Environmental Management Agency director Mrs Petronella Shoko, State Procurement Board member Mr Patrick Mushonga, Mr Albert Wakandigara a consultant on hazardous substances and Mr Comedy Piti, a mining inspector.
Minister Chombo tasked the team to look into the awarding of tenders relating to the purchase and importation of water treatment chemicals.
The team will also investigate council's internal chemical handling procedures.Minister Chombo said investigations would look into circumstances relating to the delivery of sodium cyanide, especially the appropriateness of the product routing and attendant delivery documentation.
The team will establish the extent of negligence and the liability of the parties concerned.
He said the team would recommend measures that council must put in place to avoid the recurrence of such mishaps.
"The team will investigate any other matter they find appropriate and related to the issue of tender procedures and safety of the residents, ratepayers and the transient population of the capital city," he said.
Town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi also addressed journalists yesterday and said council had received wrong consignments of water treatment chemicals many times.
He said council turned down each of the wrong or sub-standard chemicals delivered.
"We have received sub-standard aluminum sulphate so many times," he said.
"We have also received salt in place of aluminum sulphate."
Acting Mayor Councillor Emmanuel Chiroto said council will sever ties with companies that deliver wrong chemicals and look at circumstances leading to the wrong deliveries.
Clr Chiroto blamed Freight World, the clearing agents, for last week's delivery of sodium cyanide.
"The necessary reports have been made and police are currently working with the freight company," he said. 
"Let me assure you that we have robust systems and effective procedures to tell the differences in the chemicals."
In a comprehensive report on the delivery of the sodium cyanide, Dr Mahachi said it was delivered on the morning of July 24 by an Astra truck registration number ABQ5200 that was carrying container MSKU 2086204.
The vehicle was logged into council books and allowed to enter Morton Jaffray "on the basis of the consignment stock documents, which were clearly labeled aluminum sulphate".
Dr Mahachi said the assistant water works attendant Mr Walter Chitsumbu supervised the container's opening, broke the seal in the presence of the driver and loss control officer identified as Mr Mukashu.
Quality assurance officer Mr Phineas Nyambi, Dr Mahachi said, noticed the wrong delivery, which was sodium cyanide with a poisonous symbol.
"The consignment documents submitted were for granular aluminum sulphate consigned to MT and N, while the packaging was indicated to be sodium cyanide," he said.
Dr Mahachi said the truck driver was then instructed to drive off the premises with the chemical.
The poisonous chemical was returned to Bak Storage where it is under police custody.
Dr Mahachi said: "The organisation has empowered autonomous teams that are empowered to act without unnecessary consultation with senior management which allowed them to instruct the truck to quickly leave the vicinity of the water works to avoid any mishaps".
He said council follows the following steps when receiving water treatment chemicals: - Consignment arrives at the gate and details of truck, documents and container are logged in the security logbook. 
 - Security at the entrance informs the receiving attendance of the consignment arrival and allows the vehicle to enter into the offloading bay. 
 - The receiving attendant invites the Foreman, resident chemist, in the presence of the Loss Control (Security) and the vehicle driver to the receiving bay. 
 - The foreman breaks the seal in the case of a container or opens the tent if it is a granular consignment.
 - The resident chemist compares the consignment documents and the consignment labels in the presence of the plant foreman, driver and security.
 - If the documents and consignment match and are non-toxic (as per label) a sample is taken for efficacy. 
 - If the product label indicates that the produce is toxic or poisonous it is rejected immediately and instructed to move out of the plant.
 - If product is toxic or poisonous management is informed when the truck is outside the premises and is formally rejected.
 - If product meets the specifications, the resident chemist instructs the consignment to be offloaded to the specified zone.
 - Security verifies quantity delivered against consignment documents in the presence of the chemist, driver and foreman and the Chemical House attendant records in the receiving book.
 - A triplicate Goods Received Note (GRN) is generated when quality match specifications as per laboratory and security confirmation and confirmed by the Foreman. One copy of the GRN is handed to the supplier (driver); one is filed at the station and third forwarded to Harare Water Head Office Accounts.
 - Truck is inspected by security in the presence of the driver and foreman to ensure its empty and it is then allowed to leave the loading bay.
 - Truck is cleared by security and allowed to leave the premises.
 - The product is stored in the designated area and is ready for use.