Major water polluters urged to take remedial action

The Inter-Ministerial Cabinet Committee on Water Pollution has directed local authorities and the Environmental Management Agency to order companies identified as major polluters to take remedial action.  

Preliminary investigations conducted in Harare and Bulawayo by technical officers from ministries that make up the inter-ministerial committee revealed that some companies and local authorities are discharging effluent into the major water bodies and causing serious pollution.

Representatives from industry and commerce and chairpersons from Chitungwiza, Norton, Ruwa and Epworth local boards attended the first Waste Water Pollution Control stakeholders meeting held in Harare to find ways of curbing pollution.

During the meeting, local authorities and EMA were instructed to dispatch environmental orders to service stations, funeral parlours, beverage producers, abattoirs, food outlets and chemical producing plants, among others identified as major polluters.

Representatives from industry and commerce who attended the stakeholders meeting pledged to put pollution abatement measures in place.

Delta Group Safety Health and Environment Executive, Dr Tapera Mazodza and Head of Business Development at Doves Holdings, Mr Nicholas Matsika said their companies are committed to take remedial action, while Harare City Council Town Clerk, Dr Tendai Mahachi said council has already started working towards diverting effluent that flows into Chivero.)

EMA Director for Environment Protection, Ms Petronella Shoko noted that the amount that the agency is allowed to charge as a penalty on offenders is not deterrent.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare, Miriam Chikukwa gave the industries two weeks to come up with solutions.  

The Harare City Council uses seven different chemicals to treat water from Lake Chivero which has been heavily polluted by raw effluent, pesticides, domestic and industrial waste, among others.