Trymore Tagwirei
Zimbabwe’s escalating water governance crisis came under sharp scrutiny at a Parliamentary Policy Dialogue Forum convened by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), with support from residents’ associations across the metropolitan province.
The meeting, held this week at a local hotel in Harare, brought together Members of Parliament, government agencies, local authorities, civil society organisations, academics and the media to assess new research findings on the country’s deteriorating water pollution control systems.
CHRA Executive Director Reuben Akili said the dialogue provided a crucial platform for developing concrete solutions to the deepening crisis.
“This meeting was extremely important because it allowed us, together with other key stakeholders, to come up with a concrete way forward on how to address the worsening water pollution crisis.
“These ideas shared here will help strengthen our environmental management systems and guide practical solutions that can be implemented at both national and local levels,” said Akili.
Akili noted that the forum generated several actionable proposals for improving water quality management and reinforcing environmental governance.
Many of the suggestions were informed by ongoing studies and collaborations between state institutions and civil society.
He added that civil society organisations were mobilising resources to support state action, while ongoing restructuring efforts—such as the establishment of a water sector regulator and the City of Harare’s dedicated environmental unit introduced in 2019—were highlighted as essential building blocks for long-term reforms.
The meeting produced a wide range of recommendations, including the review and harmonisation of Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and municipal by-laws; finalisation of the water sector regulator; increased penalties for polluters; and ring-fencing fines specifically for pollution mitigation.
Stakeholders also emphasised the need for improved planning, stronger implementation of land-use and environmental policies, enhanced budgeting at both national and local levels, and expanded partnerships and joint ventures to support service delivery.
Other key proposals included increased investment in water and sewer infrastructure, capacitation of local authorities, strengthened environmental audits, tighter anti-corruption measures, enhanced parliamentary oversight and broader community awareness to shift public attitudes towards pollution.
These discussions were informed by findings from a CHRA-commissioned baseline study, which revealed severe degradation of water resources in the Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment.
The study attributed this decline to untreated sewage, industrial effluent and weak solid waste management—factors that pose rising risks to public health, ecosystems and economic stability.
Participants voiced concern over fragmented institutional mandates, inconsistent legislation and weak enforcement mechanisms that have allowed polluters to act with impunity. They noted that rising pollution levels in rivers, dams, lakes and underground sources point to an environmental emergency requiring urgent intervention.
Akili said stakeholders agreed on several priority actions, including harmonising key water laws, establishing an inter-ministerial coordination body to clarify roles between ZINWA and EMA, and exploring the creation of an independent wastewater regulator.
Local authorities—particularly Harare, Chitungwiza and Epworth—were urged to prioritise infrastructure rehabilitation, develop strong Trade Waste Management by-laws and safeguard whistle-blowers who expose pollution and water theft.
