Zimbabwe is facing a major environmental crisis as unprecedented sewage pollution is damaging its natural balance, putting the health of people and wildlife at risk. Nearly every water source has been polluted and many rivers are badly contaminated. Years of raw sewage dumping have severely damaged these waterways, choking them with hyacinth growth.
Currently, shocking figures reveal that a massive 415 megaliters of raw, untreated sewage pours into Zimbabwe’s environment every single day.
The capital city of Harare is responsible for a staggering amount of sewage. According to Environmental Education and Publicity Manager, Amkela Sidange:
“Harare alone discharges around 219 megaliters of raw and partially treated sewage into the environment every day, which gives an idea of just how severe the crisis is”.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, revealed that over 150,000 informal settlements lack sewerage systems which leads to their waste flowing directly into the city’s water bodies, causing devastating sewage pollution that destroys entire ecosystems, “more than 150,000 informal settlements are dumping raw sewage into the city’s waterways due to a lack of proper sanitation infrastructure,” he explained.
Lake Chivero, a vital water source that supplies water to Harare and other populated areas, has recently been hit by a toxic algae outbreak that has claimed the lives of rhinos, zebras, wildebeests, and other animals, revealing the devastating consequences of pollution.
In late 2024, the country was stunned by the news of the unexpected death of 19 rhinos. The Centre for Natural Resource Governance confirmed that their deaths were caused by poisonous chemicals released from open-cast mining commenting that:
“The poisonous chemicals used in mining can easily spread to water and soil, causing lasting damage to the environment and putting local communities at risk.”
Mining activities are among the main pollution sources, contaminating Zimbabwe’s water bodies with toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cyanide. The Environmental Management Agency reports that over 70% of rivers in mining areas are contaminated, harming aquatic life and threatening the health of nearby communities.
In the Eastern Highlands, a mining operation is wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem. The blasting has destroyed a mountain, displaced wildlife, and damaged homes due to tremors. Residents are also concerned about dust pollution and the contamination of water sources from alleged cyanide leaching, a gold extraction method that can pollute water resources.
As contaminated water is the source of a number of dangerous diseases, Zimbabwe has faced at least three of the most dangerous water-borne diseases for years – cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. The latest outbreak of cholera has ravaged the country since February 2023, affecting over 35,000 people, including children, and killing another 700 plus.
Irrespective of this grim picture, little has been done to address the water pollution issue. Although discharging waste into the environment without a permit is illegal, so far licensing seems to have done little to help this southeastern African country to achieve any improvement.
