Government of Zimbabwe on Monday handed over air quality monitoring equipment worthy 9000 euros to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to escalate country efforts against pollution.
At a ceremony held in Harare, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate, Ambassador Grace Mutandiro who presided over the hand over ceremony said air pollution was one of Zimbabwe’s biggest challenge hence the need to urgent act to address.
“As the African region begins to industrialize on a large scale, it is in an unique position to implement regulations that can help it avoid many of the problems that have occurred in industrialized nations due to pollution,” said Mutandiro.
She added that, “Currently, the majority of African countries are not pursuing comprehensive air monitoring projects. While some isolated projects are being carried out, there is no formal cooperation between states on air pollution monitoring or regulation as seen in North America or Western Cape.”
The donated equipment include a Semi-micro balance, the Digital Smoke Stain Reflectometer and FCA Charges which will help EMA and research institutions to monitoring air quality in the country.
The equipment was applied from the International Atomic Energy Agency, (IAEA) under the RAF7017 project, which is an African Regional Project on Air Quality Management for 22 countries including Zimbabwe.
EMA Director General, Aaron Chigona said the equipment will go a long way in establishing and monitoring the quality of air in the country.
“The state of the art equipment that we have received today will assist the agency to have refined atmospheric air pollution data for informed decision making,” said Chigona.
Zimbabwe is battling air pollution mainly from industries and second hand vehicles imported into the country from Japan. Currently Harare vehicle population is estimated to be around 1,2 million which is two thirds of the national population. According to Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, air pollution in cities in linked to chronic health problems like cardiovascular and cardio-respiratory deaths in the population.
