Zimbabwe tackling chemical menace against the environment

By Vimbai Kamoyo

Zimbabwe has embarked on the project to control chemicals that can harm the environment through engagement with many different stakeholders, The Business Connect reports.

This came out at a workshop organized by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in the capital Harare.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Acting Chief Director Climate and Weather Services in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Veronica Jakarasi said the country was a signatory to several conventions on chemicals that cause harm to the environment and it was only prudent to formulate policies on their usage and disposal.

“Zimbabwe is a signatory to several Multilateral Environmental Agreements which show our commitment to cooperate in managing environmental challenges facing the planet.

“In the area of sound management of chemicals and wastes, Zimbabwe is part of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, the Minamata Convention, and the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

“Chemicals with potential harm to the environment and our wellbeing have their use in various sectors of the economy hence our meeting today in this composition is in recognition of our diverse roles in the management of chemicals in their chain of custody,” she said.

Jakarasi said the project partly bankrolled by the United Nations will deal with cases by case individual countries, looking at their specific needs.

“The current project is entitled: Strengthening Legal and Institutional Infrastructures for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Wastes in Zimbabwe.

“The broad objective of the Project is to support country-driven institutional strengthening at the national level, in the context of an integrated approach to address the financing of the sound management of chemicals and wastes.

“The project will be implemented taking into account the national development strategies, plans, and priorities of each country, to increase sustainable public institutional capacity for the sound management of chemicals and wastes throughout their life cycle,” she said.

The acting Chief Director said the desired outcome would be the sustainable disposal of chemicals as well as meeting the obligations as signed in the conventions.

“The expected outcome of the Special Programme is that coherence, comprehensiveness, consistency, and cooperation among the various actors are enhanced, to address the identified gaps, overlaps, and duplication in national chemicals and wastes management activities.

“The project also seeks to enhance intersectional collaboration amongst the broad spectrum of national institutions regulating chemicals to develop coherent risk reduction strategies.

“This will reduce the adverse impacts of poor management of chemicals and wastes and assist the country in meeting its obligations under the Rotterdam, Stockholm, Basel, and Minamata Conventions and the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) with management scenarios,” she said.