admindeveloped countries often throw spanners when small nations seek funding from multilateral agencies for projects on the pretext that they will emit gases.
He said this was despite the fact that the bigger nations have registered significant industrial development while emitting gases.
Mr Zhakata said this had significantly slowed down development in smaller nations.
He was giving oral evidence before a Senate Thematic Committee on Peace and Security, chaired by Rushinga Senator Damien Mumvuri (Zanu-PF).
“Developed countries have accepted historical responsibility of climate change and they took responsibility of having caused this climate change which we are experiencing now through their emissions of gas through
the Industrial Revolution when developing countries hadn’t started developing,” said Mr Zhakata.
He said bigger nations come up with strategies to compel smaller nations to reduce gas emissions through Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions.
“If, for example, Zimbabwe wants to construct Sengwa Hydro Thermal power station which requires huge capital outlay and uses water and not coal, it means we will have to go to the International Monetary Fund for funding,” said Mr Zhakata. “They will tell you that you have not met gas emissions requirement targets. Once we accept that we are emitting gases, they will not give you funding for development.”
The Kyoto Protocol, said Mr Zhakata, mandated developed countries to reduce gas emissions by 5,2 percent less than what they were emitting in 1990. The bigger nations were discouraging developing countries making rapid developments through industrialisation like in China and South Africa, he said.
Mr Zhakata said developed nations do not want smaller nations to develop their industries but would rather want to give them “margarine and other things as finished products.”
Environmental Management Agency director, Mr Aaron Chigona rapped the Harare City Council for approving the construction of a hotel near the National Sports Stadium, a place he said was a wetland.
He was speaking before the same parliamentary portfolio committee.
Mr Chigona said the construction of the hotel by a Chinese firm did not comply with environmental management rules.
“It is being built in a wetland, that should not happen,” said Mr Chigona.
Online Reporter