Staff Reporter
The office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province together with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has joined hands to curb environmental crimes in the capital.
In a statement yesterday, Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Harare, Tafadzwa Muguti said that the environmental crimes were being caused by companies, shop owners, vendors and residents in areas such as Harare, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa.
Muguti further said that an operation on environmental crimes would cover waste management, wetlands invasions, air pollution, public transport operators’ environmental compliance and illegal sand poaching including those selling sand and bricks without permits.
Muguti highlighted what the Statutory Instrument (S.I) of 2007 of the Environmental Management Act entails concerning the safeguarding of the environment.
“In terms of Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) under section 83, Statutory Instrument 6 of 2007 (Effluent and Solid Waste Disposal) Regulations, Waste Management by laws and Public Health Act, no person shall dispose general waste or hazardous waste at undesignated site. No person shall operate a business without sufficient bins,” said Muguti.
Muguti indicated that EMA would call on interested private companies to remove litter in areas which has been neglected by the council
Muguti informed the public that sand transporters operating without valid licenses would have their vehicles impounded.
Meanwhile, Muguti lambasted Harare City Council for illegally parceling out wetlands to some Harare residents. Muguti further warned Council officials involved to stop the malpractice with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the operation against environmental offenders will run under the theme “Zero Tolerance to Environmental Crimes” and it will run for 45 days starting from the 10th of November 2022 to the 15th of December 2022 with a view to extending it if the situation does not improve.
