THE Municipality of Marondera was this week slapped with a US$5 000 by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) after being found guilty of discharging raw effluent to the environment.
According to EMA, the cash-strapped local authority is currently operating without a functional sewer treatment plant.
The farming town, located about 74km east of Harare, has its sewer plant located at Elmswood Farm.
EMA Mashonaland East provincial environment education and publicity officer Astas Mabwe confirmed that the local authority was discharging raw sewer into the environment hence the penalty.
“Following a joint inspection of the sewage reticulation infrastructure of Municipality of Marondera by inspectors from EMA and council engineers on March 4, 2026, it was observed that Dombotombo, Chicago, Cherutombo and Rufaro pump stations and Elmswood treatment plant were not functional. No effluent was reaching Elmswood treatment plant,” Mabwe said.
“This meant that the Municipality of Marondera is discharging all the effluent direct into the environment, thereby polluting the environment and water bodies.”
After the inspection, the Municipality of Marondera was ordered to repair all damaged/broken trunk lines for effluent to reach the treatment plant, to make all effluent pump stations functional and pump effluent to Elmswood treatment plant by March 20.
“A ticket of US$5 000 was issued for discharging effluent into the environment.
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“As EMA, we encourage the local authorities to ensure they prevent environmental pollution through proper effluent management.”
The town has been experiencing frequent sewage pipe outburst, including in the central bussiness district, due to an old sewer system.
Municipality of Marondera has been blaming the ballooning population for its water and sewer challenges, with residents associations accusing the council of misusing ratepayers’ money to buy luxury vehicles at the expense of service delivery.
