By Tendai Guvamombe
The impurity lake is situated on the Manyame River, the only river that feeds other major lakes, including the Darwendale Dam in Norton and the Biri Dam in Chinhoyi. As indicated by the velocity movement of molecules, all the other dams downstream of Lake Chivero will likely be contaminated
Biblically, Leviticus 11:34-35 has it that (NIV)”Any food you are allowed to eat that has come into contact with water from any of these sources will be unclean, and any drinkable liquid in any container will be unclean. Anything that one of their carcasses falls on will be unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean.”
This may be the case with Harare residents who are sitting on tenterhooks. They eat and drink from a lake whose waters are contaminated, they visit holiday resorts whose waters are unclean, and they buy fish fetched from a lake infused with raw sewage.
As the City of Harare grapples with the devastating reality of a poisoned Lake Chivero, the very source of water for its residents, it has become abundantly clear that urgent measures are necessary to mitigate this ecological disaster.
The lake’s contamination, confirmed by the Zimbabwe Wildlife Parks, has resulted in the tragic loss of fish, rhinos, and zebras, leaving residents in a state of panic. The water’s unsettling green and rusty hue serves as a stark reminder of the neglect and inaction that have perpetrated this crisis.
As Zimbabwe prepares to host the Conference of Parties on Wetlands, the irony is not lost on us. The country’s own wetlands, including Lake Chivero, are crying out for attention and conservation.
It is imperative that the City of Harare, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Ministry of Environment, and the government work in tandem to address this pressing issue.
“The survival of our planet depends on our ability to conserve and protect our natural resources,” noted Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned conservationist. “The fate of Lake Chivero and its inhabitants serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and the importance of collective action.”
In order to restore Lake Chivero to its former glory, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This includes implementing short-term strategies such as aeration, water circulation, and chemical treatment, as well as long-term solutions like watershed management, nutrient reduction, and sediment removal.
Furthermore, the adoption of advanced technologies such as phycoremediation, artificial wetlands, and nanotechnology can play a crucial role in removing pollutants and restoring the lake’s ecosystem.
As we move forward, it is essential that all stakeholders engage in a collaborative effort to address this crisis. The government, in particular, must take a proactive role in enforcing regulations and providing resources to support the restoration of Lake Chivero.
“The time for denial, delay, and excuses is over,” emphasized UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “We must take immediate action to protect our planet and its resources for future generations.”
The poisoning of Lake Chivero serves as a wake-up call for collective action. It is imperative that we work together to restore this vital ecosystem and ensure the long-term sustainability of our planet.
As we embark on this journey, let us draw inspiration from the words of Nelson Mandela, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we are fallen.”
