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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Government has lined up a series of stakeholder consultative meetings next month as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP). According to the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), sections 97-98 and Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, part three, NMZWP is a prescribed project that needs an EIA prior to its implementation.
In a notice published in the Press yesterday, the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate said it had engaged two environmental consultancy companies to carry out the study.
The study would be conducted in conjunction with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).
“The ministry, in conjunction with Zinwa has engaged two local environmental consultancy companies that are jointly called Outrun Investments-Green Resources Consortium to carry out an EIA study for the NMZWP,” read the notice.
“The project scope covers land clearing, trenching and the construction of Gwayi-Shangani Dam, twin pipeline from Gwayi-Shangani Dam to Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, low lift and booster pump stations and a link pipeline from Deka-Zambezi confluence to Kennedy Siding where it will meet the twin-pipes.”
The first meeting will be held on Thursday next week at Holiday Inn in Harare.
The second at Gwayi-Shangani Dam site on 10 December, followed by another at the Hwange Rural District Council (RDC) boardroom on 11 December.
On 12 December two meetings will be held at Makwa and Lukosi Primary schools before another is held at Marist High School on 13 December and Binga RDC boardroom on 14 December.
Chief Kavhula’s Place will host the 15 December meeting while on 16 December two meetings would be held at Gwayi sub office and the Lupane chief’s homestead.
On 17 November two more meetings would be held at Sipepa Business Centre and Tsholotsho RDC boardroom.
Sawmills Siding and Nyamandlovu RDC sub-office will also concurrently host two meetings on 18 December before another is held at the Bulawayo City Hall on 20 December.
The team leader of the consultancy company, Mr Lennon Madzamba said the stakeholder consultative meetings were in line with the legal requirements for the project.
“In line with the legal requirements and best practices of such projects, stakeholder comments are invited to the proposed project as part of the ongoing EIA stakeholder consultation process.
“The consortium shall be facilitation meetings at various venues at stipulated times and dates,” said Mr Madzamba.
He said the consultative meetings would help them take note of people’s concerns and contributions before the implementation of the NMZWP.
“Local people have a wealth of undocumented information that may assist us in this project. It is therefore important to consult people from all walks of life as we solicit for more information that can help us.
“The consultative meetings will also allow us to know people’s fears and concerns on this project as much as we will highlight to them the advantages of the project that include job creation,” he said.
Mr Madzamba said the EIA process had been going on for some time, with the site handover, scoping and baseline survey having been done.
“After the consultative meetings the process will continue with a report on the consultative meetings, analysis of data, compilation and submission of draft and final report to the client and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for review.
“Stakeholder consultation will be maintained throughout the project life-cycle, and members of the public who may not be able to attend the meetings should submit their comments to Zinwa before 30 January 2014. This will facilitate the finalisation and submission of the EIA report to EMA,” he said.
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