adminSenior Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has reprimanded Bulawayo City Council and eight other companies for polluting Umguza River and its tributaries, an official said.EMA public relations manager, Steady Kangati said an environmental disaster looming downstream of Umguza River was as a result of years of neglect on the part of the council and companies which were disposing raw sewage and hazardous effluent into the Umguza catchment area.
The guilty companies are Delta Beverages, Schweppes, Ingwebu Breweries, Colcom, CSC, Treger, Kango and United Refineries.
“We have reprimanded these companies in Bulawayo for the pollution they are causing in Umguza catchment. It was EMA which noted the pollution before a cabinet taskforce on pollution of the area was established,” he said.
Kangati said EMA had also ordered council and the companies to treat their waste before releasing it into water bodies.
“The orders we have given them are legally binding since this is a serious matter. Council should make sure the burst sewer pipes which spill into Mazai and Pekiwe streams are fixed.
“The companies should to set up waste purification plants,” he said.
Kangati said Delta beverages and Schweppes plants were releasing a hazardous colouring substance which they use in the making of soft drinks.
“That has an impact on the environment and human health,” he said.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo on Wednesday said council had written to government seeking borrowing powers to raise $13, 3 million from financial institutions to purify rivers.
He also said council also intends to use part of the funds to fix broken sewer pipes in Nkulumane and Sauerstown suburbs.
A recent report prepared by the cabinet taskforce on pollution of Umguza River and its tributaries chaired by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo comprises five ministries including Health and Child Care, Environment, Water and Climate, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing exposed an environmental disaster that is unfolding in the affected areas.
The report indicated that industrial discharge fell in the “Red Class” under Environmental Management Agency disposal limits, with the municipality and companies dumping phosphates, ammonia and nitrates in drinking water.
Some of the chemicals were said to cause diseases such as cancer and blue baby syndrome, a heart defect in newborns.
Online Reporter