Lake Chivero mess: Zanu PF warns council

MOREBLESSING MARANGE

The ruling Zanu PF party has warned the opposition against pointing fingers and hiding their incompetence that has led to chaos at Lake Chivero resulting in animals being killed and millions of residents under threat.

Water at Lake Chivero has been severely contaminated leading to fish and animals dying while millions of residents who rely on water from the source are at risk.

The severe environmental catastrophe has seen the local authority in defensive mode, blaming everyone for the mess including the government, a development that has irked the ruling Zanu PF party.

Zanu PF Politburo secretary for Local Government Supa Mandiwanzira said the local authority must not play games with people’s lives to score “brownie points.”

“We recognize there is a real crisis and at this point it is pointless to be pointing accusatory fingers at this party and that party because at the end of the day we need to resolve it,” Mandiwanzira said.

“Animals are dying, the people are affected and it is the responsibility of Zanu PF and the Zanu PF government to make sure that all Zimbabweans including the animals are having safe drinking water,” he said.

“We all know that the challenges are as a result of the incompetence of those that are running the city of Harare who are mainly the opposition but at this point we are a party in government which is responsible for addressing all issues including that mess.”

On claims by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume that illegal settlements were to blame for the contamination of the lake, Mandiwanzira said: “The government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the government of Zanu PF has been very clear it is opposed to land barons, it is opposed to developments that are taking place without authority. Ultimately the government does not go down to run the city of Harare or any other city, it is the responsibility of those given the mandate by the people of Harare to make sure these developments do not take place.”

“In most cases we have found these illegal developments have plans approved by the same local authority so we believe this idea of pointing fingers at the government must stop.”

He said the council must stop approving illegal settlements especially in places where there is no sewer and no development.