Gweru Residents Concerned Over Chrome Smoke from Chinese Industries
By Delicious Mathuthu— Gweru’s Mkoba residents have raised health concerns over smoke from chrome-processing plants in Bristol Heavy Industrial Area, prompting calls for environmental monitoring and regulatory intervention.
Delicious Mathuthu 
Gweru — Residents in Mkoba have raised concerns over smoke from Chinese owned chrome-processing plants in Bristol Heavy Industrial Area, with one of the ward councillors reporting increased complaints of coughing among some residents.
Ward 12 councillor Tedious Chimombe raised concerns about the potential health effects of the emissions during a recent full council meeting in the Midlands capital; questioning whether the plant was complying with environmental standards and whether its chimneys were tall enough to prevent smoke from drifting into nearby residential areas.
“My concern is on public health. Residents of Mkoba 12 have complained about smoke from the Chinese-owned chrome-processing plants, people have started coughing,” Councillor Chimombe said.
He called for urgent action to address the concerns before residents developed more serious health problems.
“I don't know whether the Health Department is aware of the problem.
"What action can be taken to address it before residents become seriously ill?” he asked.
Ward 18 councillor, William Mazango, who chairs the Health and Housing Committee, said the council would engage the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which is responsible for regulating environmental pollution under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27].
“As a council, we will engage EMA to assist us in addressing this matter,” Councillor Mazango said.
He said the local authority did not have a specific bylaw governing its engagement with industrial operators on the issue, adding that EMA was mandated to oversee compliance with environmental regulations.
The proposed engagement with EMA comes amid growing concerns about the potential health effects of industrial emissions on residents living near chrome-processing plants.
Residents’ concerns have raised questions about air quality monitoring, compliance with environmental standards and the need for appropriate measures to minimise the impact of industrial activities on surrounding communities.
