adminEvelene Taadira Herald Reporter
The Environmental Management Agency has urged the incoming Government to set up environmental courts to deal with individuals and companies polluting the environment.
EMA says this has been necessitated by the continued burning of waste in Harare’s central business district by council employees. Clouds of smoke have become the norm and delays in garbage collection have further degraded the city’s sunshine status.
EMA education and publicity manager Mr Steady Kangata said the standard fines were not deterrent enough hence the need for a court.
“It is an offence to burn waste as this merely transfers pollution from land to air. The burning of waste affects the health of residents and jeopardises the life of those with respiratory problems.
“We have since begun lobbying for the setting up of environmental courts so that such issues are dealt with separately and perpetrators dealt with accordingly. Mixing such issues with civil and criminal issues has led to comparisons resulting in perpetrators being fined lightly,” he said.
Mr Kangata said the maximum standard fine stood at US$5 000, an amount that he said was too little to bring noticeable change to the attitude of corporates and local authorities.
Research shows that most garbage in the cities contains the common food plastic-containers scientifically known as polystyrene which, when burnt produce styrene gas which causes cancer and attacks the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Despite efforts by local companies in providing bins around the city, council’s delays in collecting the litter has resulted in the continued burning.
Council spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi said council does not condone such behaviour from its workers.
“City employees are not allowed by council to burn waste. We are not aware of such occurrences but once found they will certainly be fined.
“Residents can also report them to council and help bring them to book,” he said.
Online Reporter