Environment polluters must pay: Kasukuwere

11 May, 2014 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

The Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Saviour Kasukuwere has vowed to put in place measures that will see polluters of the environment paying hefty fines. He castigated people who throw litter on the streets  and companies that pollute the environment by disposing waste into rivers putting the lives of many people at risk.

Speaking in Harare on Friday night at a colourful music concert that was held to assist people who were affected by floods at Tokwe-Mukosi and downstream areas, Minister Kasukuwere was emphatic that the time had come for polluters to be punished heavily.

“For a long time we have been too lenient with individuals and companies that continue to pollute the environment. This culture where people just throw litter everywhere and companies dump their toxic waste into rivers putting the lives of our people at risk has to end.

“This nonsense of polluting the environment has to stop and the polluters have to pay heavily. My ministry is coming up with measures that will see these polluters getting what they deserve for destroying our environment. We can’t take this nonsense anymore because in the end these people will destroy the environment and eventually the country. I was given a mandate to protect the environment and I am going to do exactly that,” said the tough-talking minister.

He also castigated people who start veldfires saying they put the lives of school children and animals at risk.
“We will be working closely with the Environmental Management Agency to deal with all these burning issues and I want to assure the nation that sooner rather than later, the culprits will pay the price. After witnessing the death of about 104 elephants due to cyanide poisoning in Hwange late last year, we can’t let this nonsense to continue. I am, however, happy that with regard to the poisoning of the elephants, our judiciary dealt with the offenders in a decisive manner. Now the polluters of the environment are our next target,” said the minister.

Top South Africa musician Zahara put up a scintillating performance at the concert that left the audience calling for more. Several local artistes also performed at the show. Over 2 000 people in Tokwe-Mukosi were affected by the floods.

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