EMA wake up and show that you are alive

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) must take serious consideration to the environmental conservation measures for the sustainability of economic development and protection of the environment and society as well.

It is of great importance and beneficial for EMA to safeguard the environment. The environment is fundamentally connected to everything that we need for survival as human beings. EMA must continue monitoring some acts of negligence being done by some citizens who lack environmental responsibility.

Land degradation leads to a significant reduction of the productive capacity of land. Human activities contributing to land degradation include unsuitable agricultural land use, poor soil and water management practices, deforestation, removal of natural vegetation, frequent use of heavy machinery, overgrazing, improper crop rotation and poor irrigation practices
These activities and their consequences have continued to pose a big threat to the country's environment.

In some parts of the country there have been increased reports on environmental degradation through veld-fires. Veld fires are normally caused by carelessness of people through reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs, deliberate lighting of fires and smoking out of bees for honey harvesting.

It is heartening to note that the existence of EMA is a positive development in the daily livelihoods of Zimbabweans. However, this government body lacks effectiveness in its implementation. Continuous company closures by this parastatal will not solve any problem but will actually hinder the economic growth of a nation. Reports say about 31 companies have been closed by EMA after they failed to comply with their water pollution regulations.   

EMA should engage in more environmental awareness programs. Miners and farmers must be educated on how they can adopt best practices which can benefit the society and the environment. Miners' especially small scale miners should be encouraged to strengthen their security measures to avoid accidents.

EMA is failing to monitor the mining process properly. Usually acid and other chemicals can leach in nearby water systems such as rivers which then becomes harmful to human beings and other living creatures that survive on water from such sources. Most gold mining companies pollute water through exploration activities, ore extraction and crushing process.

Recently, four elephants were reportedly killed in Zambezi National Parks, outside Victoria Falls through cyanide poisoning.

EMA must also play an important role in preventing diseases outbreaks. Malfunctioning sewage, uncontrolled solid waste management and poor refuse collection are some of the areas that EMA should pay attention to.

However, some of the operations of EMA had been affected by political interference problems. EMA had been voiceless and powerless to enforce law on these politicians who failed to comply with their act. Some of these politicians had been constructing and developing residential and commercial stands in wetlands.

Despite these and other challenges facing this parastatal, EMA must be focused and work tirelessly in ensuring the betterment of the environment and the public.