A coalition of residents, ratepayers, and environmental advocacy groups in Harare has petitioned national authorities over the worsening pollution of Lake Chivero, warning that the crisis has reached a level that threatens public health, food security, and the city’s water supply.
The petition argues that the situation now warrants a declaration of a state of emergency, potentially under the Civil Protection Act, as municipal authorities appear unable to halt the continuous discharge of raw sewage into the lake.
Lake Chivero, Harare’s primary water source and a designated Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, has been steadily deteriorating due to failing sewer infrastructure. The petition notes that the City of Harare is discharging untreated waste from collapsed sewer trunk lines along the Mukuvisi and Marimba rivers.
The capital’s main sewer treatment facilities—Crowborough and Firle—are either non-functional or operating far below capacity. Nearby local authorities in Ruwa, Epworth, and Chitungwiza are also cited for contributing to the contamination.
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Environmental reports indicate severe ecological stress. “The lake is now overloaded with nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, leading to blooms of algae and cyanobacteria that release toxins harmful to both humans and animals,” the petition states, referencing Ambient Water Quality Test Reports from the Environmental Management Agency.
The pollution has also intensified Harare’s ongoing water shortages. The city is currently producing just 320 to 350 megalitres of potable water per day—far short of the estimated 800 to 1200 megalitres required daily.
Treating the polluted water is costing the city approximately US$3 million per month, pushing up water tariffs and straining already limited public finances.
The impacts extend beyond household consumption. A local farmer reportedly lost 80 hectares of maize this season after irrigating with contaminated water from the lake.
Tourism and recreational businesses around Lake Chivero have also been affected, with several resort facilities shutting down due to declining water quality and environmental degradation.
Residents argue that the situation can no longer be treated as a routine service delivery issue, calling for urgent national intervention, restoration of sewage infrastructure, and long-term ecological rehabilitation of the lake.
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