RECENT disclosures by the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) that close to 400 million litres of raw sewage are being discharged into water bodies such as Umguza River, Lake Manyame, Lake Chivero and Sebakwe Dam should not be treated lightly.
According to the environmental watchdog, this unacceptably high deluge of raw sewage has resulted in urban areas in provinces such as Harare, Midlands, Bulawayo and Matabeleland accessing very poor quality of potable water.
It is, therefore, a matter that responsible authorities must address with utmost urgency because the lives of urbanites are in grave danger. We concur with Ema’s view that the water pollution crisis is a national issue that requires the collaboration of all key stakeholders. Piling the blame solely on local authorities and some sections of industry is counterproductive.
Central government must lead the way by availing the necessary resources to repair and replace dilapidated sewer infrastructure countrywide. It is also important for the central government and local authorities to take seriously the recommendation by Ema for urgent investment in properly-engineered waste dumping facilities (landfills) for both general and hazardous waste in all necessary areas.
The government must also invest in environmental law enforcement by creating a platform where Ema can work hand in glove with law enforcement agencies such as police, traditional leaders and key stakeholders to guard against water pollution. There is also an urgent need to review existing legislation with a view to incorporating deterrent fines and sentences to those found on the wrong side of the law.
As a country, we cannot afford to take this matter lightly because raw sewage carries life-threatening human pathogens such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery. The discharge of raw sewage into water bodies could also give rise to bilharzia, hepatitis A, intestinal nematode infections and numerous others. It is important for the government to ensure that everything is done to avoid the 2008 tragedy when a cholera outbreak began in Chitungwiza in August 2008 before spreading to all the country’s 10 provinces by December 2008.
It is also important to address the raw sewage spillage because it is dangerous to human health, animals and plants living in water ways. According to experts, the presence of sewage can lead to the deaths of many species and serious damage to fragile river ecosystems. Additionally, raw sewage typically contains viruses, bacteria, health-harming microorganisms and chemicals that are toxic to fish, animals and other creatures in the water environment.
