Polluters face weak fines while Lake Chivero receives 250 million litres of raw sewage daily
By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE – The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has called on government to declare the water pollution crisis in Harare and the Upper Manyame Catchment a state of national disaster, warning that public health and water security are under severe threat.
Speaking at a press conference held at CHRA Offices on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, CHRA said water pollution from industrial effluent and sewer remains the most pressing public health and ecological issue in the capital.
CHRA Chairperson David Pasipanodya said industries continue to violate environmental laws by discharging waste without pre-treatment facilities, while malfunctioning sewer systems at Crowborough, Firle, and Chitungwiza compound the problem.
“An estimated 250 million litres of raw sewage flows into Harare’s main water source, Lake Chivero, daily,” Pasipanodya said.
He noted that despite legal provisions under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], enforcement remains weak. Polluter permit fees and fines are “not commensurate with the environmental damage caused” and are not used for remediation.
“In Zimbabwe, it’s cheaper to pollute rather than comply with the environmental water laws,” he said.
CHRA has developed a Model Statutory Instrument on the ‘Polluter Pays Principle’ to align fines with the actual cost of damage and ensure polluters finance restoration.
The crisis is also hitting residents’ pockets. The City of Harare recently hiked water tariffs from USD1.24 to USD1.89 per cubic meter in high-density suburbs and from USD1.70 to USD2.34 in low-density areas.
Pasipanodya said the increases are because the local authority now requires up to 10 chemicals to treat water at an estimated cost of USD3 million per month.
The ban on fishing at Lake Chivero has also destroyed livelihoods. Despite the ban, CHRA warned that illegal netting continues, with fish sold to unsuspecting residents and restaurants.
“We call upon residents of Harare to stop buying contaminated fish from Lake Chivero, as this has serious health consequences,” he said.
Joyleen Nyachuru of Community Water Alliance and CHRA Ward Secretary for Glen View said residents are seeing the effects in their taps.
“Looking at the pollution of water in the surrounding areas we live, this has become a problem befalling residents. The water coming from Lake Chivero is dirty as seen by the colour of the tap water in our homes,” Nyachuru said.
“Even if HCC says the water is clean as it has been treated, looking at it, we see that the water’s colour is not what can be called clean water. Our lives in Harare are now at stake.”
She blamed lenient penalties for continued pollution and ageing infrastructure.
“The local authority or EMA should come up with stiffer penalties to deter polluters. Our sewer pipes burst because they are old. HCC should replace the old ones with new pipes. The sewer from burst pipes finds its way to the Lake through seepage into groundwater which flows to the Lake. The Morton Jaffray plant will not be able to clean the water from Lake Chivero up to the standards wanted for the water to be termed clean water.”
CHRA said it will roll out a public awareness campaign targeting councillors, parliamentarians, and community leaders as policy ambassadors for stronger enforcement.
The association also called on Parliament to expedite reforms to the Environmental Management Act, ZINWA Act, and Water Act.
While applauding government’s June Statutory Instrument on river rehabilitation under the Civil Protection Act, CHRA insisted Lake Chivero “deserves urgent attention and is, in itself, a state of national disaster.”
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