HCC unmoved by EMA fines

Zvamaida Murwira-Senior Reporter

THE Environmental Management Agency has issued 20 orders and 50 tickets to Harare City Council for water pollution and related offences.

It has also taken the local authority to court twice in the past year, but all this has not prompted the city to address the scourge, legislators have said.

HCC has also been summoned to appear before the EMA board over its failure to provide clean water to Harare residents and pollution of water bodies such as Lake Chivero through discharge of raw sewage and effluent.

This comes as the Government has embarked on the construction of Muchekeranwa pipeline project to alleviate Harare’s water shortages, while expediting the construction of Kunzvi dam to end perennial water challenges facing Harare.

This is contained in a report tabled in the National Assembly by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in response to a petition from the Combined Harare Residents’ Association on lack of access to a clean piped water supply in Glen View and Greater Harare.

The Committee, chaired by Pelandaba Tshabalala constituency legislator, Cde Joseph Tshuma (Zanu PF), tabled the report after consultations with several stakeholders on the issue.

“The Committee gathered that EMA had served Harare City Council with 20 orders, handed over 50 tickets, brought the city to court twice and summoned the city to appear before the Environmental Management Board twice,” said Cde Tshuma.

“Despite all these approaches, the pollution and environmental damage caused by the city has continued unabated.

“The Committee observed that these punitive efforts were not addressing the challenge of water pollution, as the council was finding it cheaper to pay fines than adhering to environmental regulations.

“Measures that are more stringent are needed to decisively address the scourge of pollution by the City of Harare.”

He said the committee gathered that there was a continued discharge of raw sewage into the environment by Harare City Council which was primarily caused by malfunctioning water treatment plants and sewer pipe collapses at Firle and Crowborough.

“Furthermore, the sewer management system in Harare was further compounded by the partial operation of the six sewerage treatment plants due to power cuts and dilapidated infrastructure,” Cde Tshuma said.

On solutions, the committee gathered that the Government had embarked on the construction of the Muchekeranwa pipeline project to alleviate Harare’s water shortage by transferring raw bulk water from Muchekeranwa Dam to Wenimbi Dam and finally to Seke dam near the Prince Edwards Water Treatment Plant.

“This temporary initiative is crucial amidst the city’s water crisis. The project plans to construct three booster pump stations and a 26km, 600mm diameter pipeline to Wenimbi Dam, with the first pump house currently under construction,” said Cde Tshuma.

“The clearing and marking of the pipeline route have been completed, and trenching will commence once the pipes are in place. It was noted that a further 23km pipeline was needed to connect Wenimbi Dam to the Manyame tributary, enabling natural water flow to Seke Dam for treatment at the nearby Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.

“It was further gathered that the supplier, Makomo Engineering, had already purchased the pipes for the pipeline and was awaiting delivery of the consignment from a South African supplier.”

It was also noted that the construction of Kunzvi dam being spearheaded by the Government, would go a long way in ending water challenges in Harare.

Legislators also called for the capacitation of Prince Edward Water treatment plant so that it operates optimally as one water pump is working out of four.

“It provides water to Chitungwiza, Robert Mugabe International Airport, Hatfield, Waterfalls and Letombo flats,” Cde Tshuma said.

“It was further noted that the silted Seke dam now only supports the plant for 6 to 8 months a year.”

The Harare city council has in the past come under fire for failing to provide optimum service delivery to residents, particularly provision of clean water.

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Child Care had to intervene to stop construction of the Watervlei Cemetery project approved by the city along Seke Road after it emerged that it was located on top of the main trunk of Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant, thereby raising serious health risks associated with its location.

Concerns about potential water contamination from decomposing human remains and chemicals were raised due to the proximity of the cemetery to the water treatment facility.