Environmental and water rights campaigners issue 4...

Environmental and water rights campaigners issue 48-Hour ultimatum to City of Harare

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

A consortium of environmental and water rights campaigners, led by the Harare Wetlands Trust , has given the City of Harare , the Environmental Management Agency and the Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment Council a 48-hour ultimatum to address the critical issue of cyanobacteria contamination in Lake Chivero.

The ultimatum, contained in letters dispatched to the three entities on December 16, 2024, demands immediate action to decontaminate Lake Chivero and cease the discharge of raw sewage effluent into the lake. This move comes after a press statement by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority revealed that several animals, including rhinos, zebras, and fish eagles, had died due to cyanobacteria contamination at Lake Chivero Recreational Park.

HWT attributes the pollution to CoH's prolonged practice of dumping raw sewage effluent into Lake Chivero, which has severe implications for human health and the environment. The organization emphasizes that CoH has a constitutional obligation to protect the environment and ensure a safe and healthy environment for citizens, as enshrined in Section 73 of the Constitution.

The campaigners have also demanded that EMA conduct urgent water quality tests and serve Environmental Protection Orders on CoH and UMSCC to address the contamination. Furthermore, UMSCC has been asked to provide details on the cause, nature, and extent of the contamination within 24 hours.

Failure to comply with these demands will result in litigation against the responsible entities.