Chitungwiza twins drag Koala Abattoir to court over air pollution

Koala Abattoir has been taken to the Harare Civil Court by a pair of Chitungwiza twins who accuse the company of causing air pollution along Seke Road.

The case was filed by the twins, who regularly use the busy highway and claim the abattoir has been releasing harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, posing a risk to public health.

According to the lawsuit, the pollution allegedly emanates from cattle belonging to Koala Abattoir, exposing thousands of daily road users and nearby communities to potential health complications.

The twins argue that prolonged exposure to polluted air can contribute to a range of illnesses, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases, arrhythmias, heart failure, pneumonia, bronchitis and certain neurological disorders.

Environmental accountability cases of this nature are not new in Zimbabwe. In a related matter, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) and villagers previously sued diamond mining companies in Marange for polluting water sources, exposing communities to diseases such as cancer, cholera and typhoid.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has also taken action against polluters over the years, issuing fines to local authorities and companies for water contamination — with penalties reportedly reaching up to US$80,000 between 2011 and 2022.

The court case against Koala Abattoir is ongoing, and its outcome is expected to have significant implications for environmental regulation and corporate accountability in Zimbabwe.