Suburban
HARARE City Council, which is operating without a valid Local Environmental Action Plan (LEAP) strategy document despite being the biggest city in Zimbabwe, this week introduced a renewable annual trade effluent discharge licence for all industrial and commercial properties generating trade effluent and discharging it directly or indirectly (through manholes) into the municipal wastewater system.
Suburban Reporter
In a statement, the city said the annual trade effluent discharge licence fee will be US$500 or the equivalent in local currency and is effective from January 1, 2022 in terms of the Environmental Management Act (EMA) Chapter 20:21 of 2002 Section 59 (1).
“The application forms for the TEDL (trade effluent discharge licence) are obtainable at the City’s Trade Waste Inspectorate Office (Cleveland House 6th Floor Office Number 601) at a cost of US$5 (or equivalent $ZWL) per form,” read the statement undersigned by the acting town clerk Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo.
Although no comment could be obtained from council this week, the comes hard on the revelation by Government last year that Harare had no LEAP strategy. LEAP documents require identification of main environmental problems and placing a clear set of goals and actions for better environmental performance and resolving identified problems.
The document covers the current state of the environment including in formal planning processes.
Harare Metropolitan Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti last year wrote to the acting council town clerk Engineer Mabhena Moyo saying that they have noted with concern that they city has is operating without the LEAP document.
The letter was copied to the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Hospitality and Tourism.
“I would like to bring to your attention that issues of environmental management are at the fore as we strive to properly manage the environment and mitigate actions that harm the environment,” Mr Muguti said.
“In terms of Section 95 (1) of the Environmental Management Act (20:27), every local authority shall prepare an environmental action plan for the area under its jurisdiction. The failure of City of Harare to have LEAPs has significantly contributed to the illegal occupation of wetlands, shortage of water, mushrooming of illegal dumps and contamination of water sources.
“The National Development Strategy (NDS1) and our Provincial Economic Development Plan stresses the importance of protecting wetlands and waste management which will be driven through LEAPs. In view of the above, council is directed to fully fund the formulation of the LEAP document before end of October 2021 so as not to be in breach of Section 95 (1) of the EMA Act (20:27).”
Mr Muguti encouraged the local authority to engage the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and continue tapping into the expertise they offer as an arm of Government.
Earlier in 2021, the municipality was ordered by EMA to expedite the decommissioning of the Pomona dumpsite, which has become a serious health hazard to residents particularly those in Mt Pleasant, Groombridge, Vainona, Pomona and parts of Avondale and Borrowdale.
This followed a High Court order compelling the municipality to submit a plan for the decommissioning of the dumpsite in June. The High Court ordered council to submit the Pomona dumpsite decommissioning plan to EMA for approval indicating timelines and the budget for constructing a properly engineered landfill.
Commenting on the matter last year, Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme said the municipality was still to identify an alternative site and proposed three sites to central Government.
