Sewage shocker in Zim cities

Patience Nhamburo

ZIMBABWE’S Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has called on city councils in the southern African country to refurbish their sewer systems, as the current structures are old and failing to support the growing population.

The situation is dire in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, where authorities
have been accused of pumping raw sewage into Lake Chivero, the
city’s main source of water supply.

EMA’s Education and Publicity Manager, Amkela Sidange says water pollution levels have reached alarming levels at Lake Chivero and this
is exposing residents to water borne diseases such as cholera and
typhoid.

A survey by EMA has revealed that councils are largely to blame for pollution and Harare tops the list as it discharges 539 mega-litres of raw sewage into water sources daily, with Bulawayo being the second largest polluter at 13 mega-litres per day. Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru and Chegutu are also among the culprits.