Zimbabwe Govt Commended for Gazetting Environmental Management Bill 

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has applauded the Parliament of Zimbabwe for gazetting the Environmental Management Amendment Bill on September 9, 2026.

According to CHRA the Bill seeks to introduce harsher and deterrent penalties for corporate polluters and wetland developers, which is in tandem with the position and legislative concerns of residents over water pollution and wetland destruction in Harare.

The association said to ensure wider coverage and inclusivity in the parliamentary public consultation processes on the Bill, they call upon the Parliament of Zimbabwe to deploy an array of platforms (physically and virtually) to solicit residents’ input on the Bill.

“We reiterate that the current environmental-water legislative and regulatory framework lacks provisions that deter water pollution and wetland destruction, and the polluter pays principle has not been fully enforced due to legislative and policy gaps,” CHRA said.

They add that current polluter permit fees and fines are often not commensurate with the environmental damage caused and are not effectively used for pollution remediation, restoration, or prevention. CHRA said resultantly, it has become cheaper for corporates to pollute rather than comply with the environmental water laws.

Tgey said the burden of water pollution is being borne by residents through water tariff increases, poor water quality and quantity, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of livelihoods. They said the City of Harare is using ten (10) water treatment chemicals, with the monthly water treatment costs pegged at an unsustainable bill of US3 million, and this has been attributed to the heavily polluted water at Lake Chivero.

In our research findings, we have noted that industries are failing to comply with environmental regulations by not installing pre-treatment facilities before discharging effluent into municipal sewer systems as required by the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], Section 59, an issue that has contributed immensely to water pollution. The issue is further compounded by the malfunctioning of the sewer systems at treatment facilities such as Crowborough, Firle, and Chitungwiza.

CHRA said they are of the view that the amendments capturing resident input and submissions will go a long way towards enhancing water security and the realization of Sections 73 on the right to a clean environment and 77 on the right to water enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

CHRA said it acknowledges and appreciates the Government of Zimbabwe’s efforts in strengthening environmental water laws and recommends the  the “Polluter Pays Principle” must seek to strengthen environmental governance, improve accountability, while ensuring that polluters finance remediation and restoration costs, fines and permit fees must align with actual costs of environmental damage and corporates must be compelled to comply with environmental regulations by installing pre-treatment facilities before discharging effluent into municipal sewer systems as required by the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], Section 59.

CHRA said addressing issues of fragmented legislation, weak regulatory oversight, overlapping institutional mandates, limited coordination among stakeholders, and weak enforcement mechanisms is a critical step towards enforcing environmental water laws in Zimbabwe.

CHRA also said priority must be given to the rehabilitation of sewer systems at Crowborough, Firle, and Chitungwiza.