Greater Hwange Residents Trust and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) Workers Committee have raised concerns that Hwange Power Station units 7 and 8 are causing air pollution, leading to poor health among residents living in the surrounding areas.
These concerns were expressed in a letter written by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Provincial Environmental Manager, requesting environmental information.
Hwange Thermal Power Station units 7 and 8 were commissioned last year.In the letter, they also copied Hwange Local Board Chief Executive Officer, Hwange Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife.
According to ZLHR, air quality in Ingagula Township and the surrounding areas has deteriorated, and there are now growing cases of poor health.
“We act for and are instructed by the Greater Hwange Residents Trust and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) Workers Committee. Please note our interest.Our clients represent the residents of Hwange Town and the workers of ZPC, who make up the majority of the residents of Ingagula Township in Hwange. Ingagula Township is located in close proximity to the thermal power station, which recently had units 7 and 8 commissioned. Our clients advise that since the commissioning of the two units, the air quality levels in Ingagula Township and the surrounding areas have deteriorated, and there are growing cases of poor health being caused by air pollution from the emissions of the power generating stations,” read the letter.
ZLHR said their clients are concerned about the violation of residents’ rights to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being, as stipulated in section 73 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Furthermore, the right protected in section 73 places a duty on the State to prevent pollution through legislative and other measures,” they said.
They noted that according to the law, any operation of such a magnitude requires EMA’s involvement to assess and determine whether the operation should commence, ensuring it does not harm the environment and the communities residing in the particular area.
ZLHR added that their clients have the right to environmental information in terms of section 4 (b) of the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27).
“As such, we have been instructed, as we hereby do, to request that you furnish us, within seven days of your receipt of this letter, with the following information: the environmental impact assessment report concluded prior to the completion of units 7 and 8; the conditions on the permitted emissions in the emissions license for the power station issued in terms of sections 64 and 65 of the Act; and that the Environment Management Board carry out investigations into the air pollution caused by the power generating station in terms of section 63 (1) (h) of the Act and provide us with the recent ambient air sampling results for Hwange Town, with specific emphasis on Ingagula Township and surrounding areas,” said ZLHR.
