Interim CCC leader, Professor Welshman Ncube, has inexplicably sought to shift the blame for the ongoing ecological disaster at Lake Chivero onto the Government, despite the opposition-run Harare City Council (HCC) being directly responsible for the pollution.
In a post on X, Ncube alleged that “the tragic fish die-off at Lake Chivero and the continued threat to rhinos in our protected areas are glaring indictments of a government failing its basic responsibilities. Protecting our water bodies and wildlife is not optional—it is essential for life, livelihoods, and future generations.”
This accusation, however, is a glaring act of politicking. Ncube conveniently overlooks the fact that the Harare City Council, led by his own CCC party, is the direct cause of this disaster through the continued funneling of raw sewage into Lake Chivero. For over two decades, the CCC and its previous iterations—MDC, MDC-T, and MDC Alliance—have presided over the systematic decay of Harare, once celebrated as the Sunshine City.
The pollution of Lake Chivero has caused devastating ecological harm, with aquatic life nearing extinction and wild animals dying after consuming the contaminated water. This tragic situation is a direct result of the incompetence and neglect of the opposition-led council.
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) must step in and impose stringent penalties, including fines and possible jail terms, on those responsible within the HCC. Furthermore, Ncube and the CCC must stop playing blame games and instead take full accountability for their role in this disaster. Immediate remedial measures are required to save what remains of the ecosystem.
Heads must roll, and the CCC leadership, starting with Ncube, must own up to the Harare City Council’s failures.
The people of Zimbabwe deserve leaders who prioritize action and accountability over political theatrics, especially in matters as critical as the nation’s water resources and ecological sustainability.
