The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
The Cabinet committee that was recently set up to consider ways of ensuring clean and safe water across the country has begun its work and has already put together 10 provincial task forces to investigate problem areas.
The committee, announced by President Robert Mugabe at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair last month, comprises Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa.
Representatives of the ministries of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development as well as Industry and Commerce are also part of the panel.
Minister Kasukuwere said the committee will, among other tasks, look into unclean water, sewage leakages and pollution with a view to coming up with remedial action.
He said committee members are scheduled to tour different parts of the country this week.
“We have already started work in full force, to look into the issues of unclean water, sewage and pollution in urban centres and water sources.
“A combined team consisting of 10 provincial task forces, headed by the provincial administrators, has since been set up.
“We will be monitoring and visiting these provinces next week (this week) to assess key findings regarding the problems being experienced.
“The committee is also looking into how urban centres can enter into partnerships and secure funding to rehabilitate sewers whose pipes often burst. It is also our target to have sewer infrastructure expanded to cope with an increasing population.
“Raw sewage tends to pollute water and its sources.
“The committee will look into a number of factors affecting the water such as the role of industries in pollution because pollution has become a serious matter.
“In Bulawayo, we have already started investigations over the pollution of Mtshabezi Dam by various companies.
“These companies must comply with environmental laws, we are declaring war on them,” Minister Kasukuwere said.
