Zimpapers Logo

Midlands Correspondent
THE Ministry of Industry and Commerce has engaged the chairperson of the inter-ministerial Cabinet committee on water pollution and waste management, Dr Ignatius Chombo, to extend the deadline for companies to comply with the new environment regulations on water pollution.

The committee has given polluting companies up to 30 June to comply with the Environmental Management Authority regulations, failure to which government will order them to close their operations. Already tanneries have been ordered to stop operating until they erect approved pre-treatment plants.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said there was a need for the government to give companies a flexible deadline.

“We are aware of the ultimatum that has been given to some manufacturing companies including those in Gweru to comply with the EMA regulations by 30 June 2014,” she said.

“As the ministry responsible for the manufacturing sector, we are engaging the chairman of this Cabinet committee on the need to extend such a deadline to give it flexibility.”

Mabuwa said this in Gweru during a recent Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) workshop on the role of industry in the implementation of the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset. She said the government was committed to accelerating the implementation of projects under Zim-Asset and remove all bottlenecks.

The Deputy Minister said the revival of New-Zimsteel, formerly Zisco-Steel, would ignite economic growth in upstream and downstream industries.

“The government has facilitated a number of projects in line with Zim-Asset and New Zim Minerals project which has seen the government finally agreeing with Essar-Africa Holdings to revive the steel maker,” she said.