Roseline Mutare
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has stopped the construction of a fuel service station on the banks of Mucheke River by a private company because it does not have the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment certificate.
“We cannot allow any construction to commence without a thorough environmental impact assessment, the site’s suitability for a fuel station can only be determined after an application detailing the boundaries has been received and an on-site assessment has been conducted,” said Milton Muusha, EMA Masvingo provincial manager.
Despite the order, construction vehicles and materials have already been brought onto the site.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, Masvingo City Mayor Aleck Tabe confirmed that the site had been allocated by the council and referred to it as part of the new Central Business District (CBD), referred this publication to the acting city engineer, Kudzaishe Mbetu for more information.
Godfrey Mtimba, the spokesman for the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA), expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of the fuel station.
“The fuel station is located close to the river, and if there is an accident or spill, it could pollute the water and put the health of residents at risk, additionally, the aquatic life in the river could be affected, We are also concerned that when the owners are cleaning the fuel station, they may be tempted to dispose of the waste into the river, which would be disastrous,” said Mutimba.
A source told The Midweek Watch that the service station is being constructed by a wealthy member of parliament from the Midlands Province with close links to powerful politicians in the country.
Two trucks delivering building material are stuck in the muddy at the site following heavy rains that hit the country this season.
