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Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is not doing enough to effectively implement policies aimed at safeguarding the environment in the country, former Education Minister David Coltart has said.

Addressing journalists during a climate change workshop in Bulawayo on Thursday, Coltart said Zimbabwe was becoming a desert and one of the dirtiest countries in Africa due to rampant littering, pollution and massive degradation.

“Zimbabwe is becoming a desert and one of the dirtiest countries in Africa because EMA is seemingly silent and not doing its job in protecting the environment. There is rampant dumping of unbelievable amounts of rubbish down the alleys, cutting down of trees and unregulated mining taking place everywhere,” said Coltart.

“It’s unfortunate that the funds that are meant for the protection of the environment are actually used to sustain the body as an environment management tool and nothing is done on the ground.”

Coltart attributed the destruction of the environment to economic challenges.

“In the urban areas, people are forced to cut down trees when there is no electricity because they can’t afford alternative sources of power. Gold panners cut trees, start fires and destroy the environment as they do their mining activities,” he added.

“EMA is not doing its job to ensure that the environment is protected. Our forests are fast becoming deserts and this is something to be seriously worried about.”

He added that there was also rampant dumping and pollution by companies.

“This is a national crisis that needs urgent attention. There is uncontrolled dumping often by businesses but nothing is done. It’s unfortunate that some of these companies are run by ministers. We’re busy focusing on gold production and forgetting the damage done by the mining activities in most parts of the country. In most areas, forests are burnt every year .