adminWHEN the Environment Management Agency (EMA) fined the Bulawayo City Council in 2010 for its role in letting companies pollute Umguza River, one would have expected the local authority to move with vehemence to address the matter.
However, it took the local authority two years four months, more fines and a new crop of councillors, to decide to apply to Government for borrowing powers in a bid to access funds to address the matter. Noting the urgency of the matter, Government took less than a month to grant these powers.
Today, after more than a year when these powers were granted, the local authority continues to fail to depollute the river putting itself at risk of getting further sanctions from EMA. The latest revelations come despite the local authority applying for the borrowing powers from Government last year to help fund a number of projects that were going to assist in depolluting the river. BCC is now arguing that it would rather be further fined by EMA as the matter was now out of its hands as council is still trying to process the required loan with banking institutions.
According to the local authority, the process of depolluting the river includes the setting up of pre-treatment plants by industries that discharge pollutants into council sewer mains so as to reduce pollutants to levels not harmful to the environment.
BCC also has to rehabilitate collapsed outfall sewers so as to convey all the sewerage to the treatment plants and works. The process will also include the rehabilitation of sewerage treatment plants to optimal levels to ensure reclaimed water is not harmful to plants, humans and fish in the rivers.
EMA provincial environmental manager for Bulawayo Mr Decent Ndlovu revealed that they were considering taking the local authority to court as they had since realised that fines were not deterrent enough.
“We have been fining these people since 2010. They tell us that they are doing something but honestly they don’t do a thing. It is clear that fining them is not deterrent enough. Right now we won’t have any choice but to open a docket and take them to court. Right now they are continuously telling us that the tender process is delaying everything but our major concern is that raw effluent is still flowing into Umguza River. Yes, some industries are pre-treating their waste but this is not enough because still the effluent is still flowing into the river and this goes on to affect the communities downstream,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He revealed that according to their calculations, 10 mega litres of raw effluent is flowing into the river on a daily basis, which he said was very worrying.
“What worries us are the communities downstream. While to someone the pollution of this river might seem like a small issue, we must consider the number of people who rely on that water for their livelihood, their livestock and their crops. The local authority must be serious and address this matter as a matter of urgency, this matter has taken too long such that by now if they were serious they should have addressed,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere took a swipe at the local authority, saying it was showing arrogance in the way it was dragging its feet in resolving the matter.
“I was the Minister of Environment when BCC was first penalised for polluting that river, today I am now the Minister who overlooks the council and still they haven’t resolved the matter; it is really worrying. While BCC is one of the best run local authorities this matter is now like a bad apple because it is destroying their image. They should do something to address this matter as a matter of urgency,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
The city’s mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, said they were seeking alternative forms of funding as the bank that had offered them $13 million is continuously shifting goal posts and requesting for more paperwork.
“While the borrowing powers were granted in August last year, the bank is always coming up with new demands. As soon as we get funding, we will start the project of depolluting the river. If EMA wants to penalise us we cannot stop them but frankly the matter is out of our hands, we just don’t have the required funds,” said Clr Moyo.
The local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, concurred with Clr Moyo, however, revealing that they had since awarded four tenders meant to assist in the depollution of the river and were now simply waiting for the funding.
“The granting of borrowing powers was not the availing of funds to attend to pollution issues. It was to allow council to negotiate with banks for a loan. That loan was secured with BancABC and the agreement was only signed beginning of August this year. In the meantime four tenders have now been awarded which are for the rehabilitation of the Marvel/Mahatshula outfall sewer, rehabilitation of Aisleby three Sewerage Treatment Plant and installation of laboratory equipment to monitor pollution. Two other tenders are at adjudication stage,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She alleged that as a local authority they continued engaging EMA on the matter and updating them on the progress they were making with regards to depolluting the river.
“Council has been involving EMA in all programmes of monitoring of industrial effluent. EMA has been kept in the loop during all the stages of negotiating of loans with the banks and is aware of the level of funding that has been availed to the city for pollution control. It is only if EMA was left out and did not know what was happening that the local authority would risk serious reprimand. EMA is our partner in our endeavour to eliminate pollution of rivers,” said Mrs Mpofu.
With regards to the communities downstream that risked being affected by the polluted river, she revealed that in future they would, together with EMA, engage them as the rehabilitation programme takes place.
Last year the Government dispatched a team of experts to Umguza to carry out a detailed study of water quality and the impact of the contaminated water on the agricultural activities and inhabitants within the Umguza area. A 2009 study by the National University of Science and Technology Ecotoxicology Research Group in the Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry showed that fish collected from Umguza Dam had high levels of metals as compared to fish collected from other dams.
Mr Charles Teta, an Environmental Toxicologist and Research Fellow in the Ecotoxicology Research Group under the department of Environmental Science and Health at Nust, also noted that the levels of contamination in Umguza River were alarming.
“According to our research findings, the level of pollution in the Umguza River is alarming. The fact that Bulawayo is in a semi-arid region, with low erratic rains, means that extremely high strength effluent is replenishing the Umguza River and dams. There is little natural water available to dilute pollutants to levels that are environmentally safe.
“The authorities should engage all industries operating in Bulawayo and inform them of the repercussions of negligent effluent disposal and this coupled with tight monitoring and revamping of the aging sewage treatment infrastructure could help reduce pollution.
“EMA fines alone may not be deterrent enough and may not be the solution because some industries may prefer to pay the fines than to meet the costs of effluent pre-treatment,” he said.
He revealed that the level of chromium in water is usually low, but the most toxic form of chromium is chromium (V1) (hexavalent chromium) which causes DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) damage. DNA is the one which makes up our genes, hence its damage leads to mutations of the genetic material. Other known effects are cancers (which result from DNA damage), and weakened immune system. On the skin it may include ulcerations, dermatitis, and allergic skin reactions.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter