The Sunday Mail
Harare City Council should capacitate its trade works department and set up proper waste water management systems, urban planners have said.
Raw sewage must also be used to irrigate farms on the outskirts of the capital.
Rural and urban planning expert Mr Percy Toriro said effective systems would help minimise the amount of toxins getting into water sources.
“There is need for the local authority to be extra careful when handling waste and water systems since Harare was built on its catchment area.
“The system would have worked if our infrastructure were not so overloaded and old. Thus, the local authority needs to be extremely alert so as not to have a repeat of the 2008 (cholera) situation.”
Zimbabwe experienced its worst cholera outbreak when almost 10 000 cases and 1 500 deaths were reported between August 2008 and July 2009.
The outbreak was mainly caused by water supply and sewer challenges in urban areas.
Waterkings Environment Consultancy principal consultant Mr Webster Muti said: “Sewage from Harare and Chitungwiza was basically for irrigating the surrounding farms. This provided some form of further treatment before the effluent found itself back to water sources.
“Council needs to revive that system to avoid pumping toxic matter into our water bodies. If that cannot be done, then they should refurbish the whole system in a major way.
“Water pollution management in Zimbabwe is based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Polluters are supposed to pay sufficiently to enable the waste management authority to treat effluent effectively as well as monitor pollution sources and impacts.
“Waste disposal rates charged to residents and industries should also be pegged at a level that enables council to effectively treat effluent before disposal. Indications are the present pricing system is inadequate and inconsistent with the ‘polluter pays’ principle.”
