Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
THE City of Bulawayo cannot attract green investment or sustain eco-industries without first addressing its water infrastructure challenges, Mayor Councillor David Coltart has said.
Clr Coltart made the remarks during a Trade Effluent and Water Recycling Indaba organised by the Bulawayo City Council last week.
The two-day workshop ran under the theme: “Innovation for Responsible Industry, Cleaner Environment and Water Security in Zimbabwe.”
The indaba sought to strengthen Bulawayo’s water security and environmental protection efforts amid growing concerns over water scarcity and pollution.
It brought together industry representatives, policymakers and technical experts to explore practical solutions to improve compliance, protect water infrastructure and advance sustainable water management practices.
Clr Coltart said a reliable water foundation is critical to enabling green industrialisation and attracting sustainable investment aligned with environmental goals.
“Collaboration between local authorities, industries, and the private sector is essential for transforming Bulawayo’s water systems into a resilient and environmentally sustainable network capable of supporting economic growth and green industrial initiatives,” said Clr Coltart.
He said water security is fundamental to achieving green industrialisation, describing it as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency and climate resilience. Green industrialisation, he added, seeks to restructure production systems to make them environmentally sustainable while strengthening economic resilience.
“As the Bulawayo City Council, we recognise the central role of the circular economy in all our processes, particularly in water and waste management, this is precisely why this workshop must become a platform for transforming how we view trade effluent management and how we improve wastewater discharge, from industry to treatment plants and from treatment plants back into our water bodies.
“We cannot attract green investment or sustain eco-industries without first fixing our water foundation. It is therefore vital for companies to assess and actively reduce their water footprints as part of a broader sustainability commitment,” said Clr Coltart.
Also addressing delegates, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, in a speech delivered on her behalf by Deputy Director of Environmental Planning and Environmental Management Mrs Norah Mupaza, called on businesses to invest in compliant on-site treatment plants to reduce the discharge of untreated effluent into the city’s ageing sewer system.
Minister Ncube said Bulawayo has faced challenges, including fines from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) due to the discharge of untreated trade effluent from its ageing sewer infrastructure.
She said her office, EMA and the City of Bulawayo must work closely together to address the problem.
She noted that the indaba brought together stakeholders from industry, academia and international experts to share experiences and knowledge to improve the management of trade effluent and wastewater recycling.
“We must adopt the “Polluter Pays Principle” to protect municipal infrastructure from toxic chemical dumping and to manage trade effluent effectively, businesses in this city should invest in compliant on-site treatment plants, reducing the discharge of untreated effluent into the city’s ageing sewer system.
While we continue to enforce environmental laws, Government is committed to transitioning from purely punitive measures to incentivising the circular economy,” said Minister Ncube.
She added that the workshop provided an opportunity to explore policy frameworks offering tax rebates and import duty exemptions for industries investing in water recycling and effluent treatment technologies, making it easier for companies to comply with environmental regulations.
“Through the National Development Strategy 2, the Government recognises that industry and economic growth are pivotal to achieving an upper middle-class income society by 2030.
“Our role is to facilitate industry so that Bulawayo can reclaim its industrial glory — but growth must be environmentally sustainable.
“Water, as a constrained resource, it’s recycling is no longer optional but an economic imperative,” said Minister Ncube.
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