CHRA Applauds ZHRC for HCC Over Lake Chivero Pollution
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has applauded the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) for summoning the City of Harare to account for persistent cholera outbreaks and the chronic pollution of Lake Chivero, the capital’s main water source.
Lake Chivero has suffered years of unchecked pollution caused by raw sewage discharge, industrial effluent, and solid waste.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that the city’s weak enforcement of water pollution laws has turned the lake into a dangerous health hazard.
In a statement, CHRA described the ZHRC’s intervention as a powerful affirmation of residents’ long-standing complaints over the city’s failure to guarantee safe, clean, and potable water—a right enshrined in Section 77 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution.
“The intervention by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is a clear affirmation of the residents’ concerns over the City of Harare’s failure to protect water sources and guarantee the right to safe water,” CHRA said.
CHRA highlighted that poor raw water quality at Lake Chivero and Darwendale Dam has severely compromised water safety, while the city’s dilapidated water distribution network further exposes residents to recontamination of treated water.
ALSO READ: CHRA Demands Urgent Council Meeting Over Illegal Vainona Construction Scandal
“Water pollution at Lake Chivero is a serious public health issue which must not be underplayed,” CHRA warned.
“It requires thorough investigation, including robust chemical and biological tests and analysis of the implications on human health.”
The residents’ association also pointed to repeated cholera outbreaks in Harare as clear evidence of the city’s mismanagement.
Recent findings from the Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment Council and the City of Harare show that many boreholes in western and southern suburbs are contaminated with coliform bacteria, a major cause of water-borne diseases.
CHRA called on government to urgently reform environmental and water laws and to establish an independent drinking water inspectorate, preferably under the Ministry of Health.
This body would be responsible for monitoring water quality standards and ensuring residents have access to safe water.
“We reiterate our call for the establishment of a drinking water inspectorate to allow checks and balances on reporting water quality, and to ensure effective monitoring of drinking water standards within the city,” CHRA added.
