On the northwestern side of the dormitory town of Chitungwiza, in Manyame Park suburb, flowing sewage makes its way to Hunyani River, a vital water source for local residents, threatening the lives of many and organisms that depend on it.
For Christina Mukaro (26) from Chitungwiza, the disposal of sewage by Chitungwiza Municipality into Hunyani River comes as a burden and cost at the same time.
“The water from the river is what we depend on for farming, washing and bathing, especially nowadays where we are struggling to get adequate clean water from council,” said Mukaro.
She urged the local authority to act promptly to address the perennial water challenges in the area.
Moreover, according to Mukaro, residents depend on fish from the river.
“As residents of Chitungwiza, we wish the municipality comes up with a solution to address this pressing issue of sewage. Aquatic life is at risk because of this discharge.
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"Moreover, as a vendor trading from where the sewage flows, the odour is unbearable, it affects customers too," Mukaro said.
Mike Mudavanhu (39) is also among the affected residents that are requesting urgent action from council.
He is mainly concerned about the effect the sewage has on the natural environment.
“As a resident living near the river, I am deeply concerned about the sewage being discharged into the river. The smell is unbearable and it's alarming to think about the impact this has on our health and the environment.
"The river, which used to be a source of recreation, is now polluted and unsafe. We deserve better management of our waste and a commitment to clean water. It's frustrating to see our community's well-being compromised like this,” said Mudavanhu.
Director of Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), Farai Maguwu, said the discharging of raw effluent into rivers resulted in waterborne disease outbreaks.
These include cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
“Medieval diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery will continue to affect our population as they drink contaminated water. Disposing of sewage into water bodies is an irresponsible act and negligence of serious proportions. In future, CNRG will consider partnering residents associations to raise awareness on the issue.
"We will also consider petitioning responsible authorities and as a last resort, approach the courts. The health of a city is determined by the quality of water its residents drink,” said Maguwu.
Nyaradzo Mutonhori, the programmes co-ordinator for Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, said the discharge of sewage into Hunyani River had detrimental effects on human beings and aquatic life.
"When we look at the issue of disposal of sewage into rivers, it poses a significant environmental and public health issue, particularly when we are talking about the blue economy," she said.
"Recently there was a national stakeholder consultation and validation workshop on national blue economy strategy for Zimbabwe. So, when we look at the blue economy in Zimbabwe, it is based on sustainable use and management of water resources, especially in rivers and lakes. The disposal of sewage threatens the health of these water bodies and undermines key sectors like fisheries, tourism, water quality and so forth."
Mutonhori added that the lives of people who relied on rivers for livelihoods would be also affected severely as the water would be unsafe for consumption, agricultural purposes and industrial use.
“So, when we talk about the potability of water and how sewage introduces harmful pathogens and chemicals into water bodies, making it unsafe for human consumption and for agricultural or industrial use, it means that so many people that rely on the rivers and lakes for livelihoods are also affected.
''And when we look at the presence of other chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorus and sewage, it leads to a process of algae growth. And we know what happens when algae grows in our rivers and lakes.”
She also highlighted the issue of tourist attraction since tourists will avoid polluted rivers and lakes due to health concerns. Since Hunyani River is flowing through Lake Chivero and makes its way to Mashonaland West, the fact that the river which is polluted is passing through Lake Chivero can hinder tourism activities, Mutonhori said.
“Tourists also avoid polluted lakes and rivers due to these health concerns as well. So, we look at it as basically a serious issue, which can lead to reduced revenues and fewer opportunities for communities dependent on tourism and aquatic life," she said.
Environmental Management Agency (Ema) communications officer Joyce Chapungu said the Environmental Management Act gave guidance on how effluent is to be discharged into the natural spaces.
“As Ema, we are a statutory body, established under an Act of Parliament, Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], thus all our operations are within the confines of the same Act. The Act stipulates that any form of water pollution is prohibited under section 57 and thus no one is permitted to discharge pollutants into an aquatic environment in contravention of water pollution control standards.
"In sections 59 to 62, the Act further gives guidance on how effluent is to be discharged into the environment, stipulating that no local authorities are allowed to discharge effluent without a licence (which has pollution prevention conditions). And that effluent (before treatment) should be discharged only into existing sewerage systems,” said Chapungu.
She urged law enforcement agencies to hold municipalities accountable. Chapungu called for increased resource allocation to environmental agencies in the national budget and improved public participation.
She said it was critical for municipalities to move in line with sustainable development goals and invest in innovative technology when it comes to addressing issues of retrofit technologies, sewage systems and ensuring that they upgrade those technologies to more sustainable levels so that they stop polluting the rivers and freshwater sources.
Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Tafadzwa Kachiko said: "What is happening is as a result of vandalism and we are in the process of replacing the pump."
Sarah Perry, head of Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, said the impact of discharging sewage into rivers could be linked to processes such as eutrophication, an increase in nutrients in the water that increases the amount of plant and algae growth.
“We all know now that sewage and other types of pollutants are a danger to human health, but we mustn’t forget thatthey also has a huge impact on animals and plants living in our waters. "The consequences of releasing sewage can also mean that a cocktail of bacteria, viruses, harmful chemicals and plastics are released into the marine environment. This, coupled with warmer water temperatures this year, is putting people, wildlife and the planet at risk.”