By Christopher Makaza

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is up in arms against five MDC led local authorities in Mashonaland West for contravening Environmental Management Act Section 57 for discharging raw effluent into water bodies and environment.

Kariba Municipality has already been slapped with a $2 000 fine.  The other four  local municipalities on the spotlight are  Kadoma, Norton, Chinhoyi and Chegutu.

EMA Mashonaland West Acting Provincial Manager, Rambwai Mapako says the move was triggered by non-compliance by the local Authorities with the strict provisions of the law.

“As EMA we have directed all our local authorities to be in compliant with statutory provisions in terms of our EMA Act chapter 2027 with regards to management of effluent and sewer but we have noted that there was non-compliance,” he said.

Mr Mapako highlighted that EMA then directed its officers across the districts to ensure that they open dockets for the five local authorities.

“One case has already been completed, that of Kariba where the magistrate agreed with the agency`s position that there was indeed a violation in terms of the EMA Act chapter 2027 and 57. The magistrate then directed the local authority to pay a fine and also that they address the sewer discharge points that EMA presented as evidence and this is actually threatening public health,” he said.

Mr Mapako applauded the judiciary for cooperating with the Agency, thus would send a strong message to other local authorities.

“We are happy with the stance taken by the Judiciary system, we believe if we get such cooperation from our judicial system, we are likely to see an improvement in investment by our local authorities towards addressing environmental challenges across all our local authorities in the province,” he said.

Kariba Urban Resident Association (KURA) Chairman, Sam Coffee said most of the municipalities had been found wanting in terms of service delivery due to corruption and prevailing harsh macro-economic environment.

Most MDC led councils countrywide have been affected by mismanagement of council resources including rate payers’ money, misplaced priorities and greediness. They are accused by rate payers for awarding themselves hefty salaries and allowances at the expense of service delivery.