Zimbabwe: study warns about health risks linked to Lake Chivero’s pollution

A new study has revealed that the mismanagement of Lake Chivero, one of Zimbabwe’s major water sources, poses serious health risks for millions of people. Years of unregulated discharge of industrial waste and untreated sewage have transformed the lake into a hazardous chemical mix, compelling the government to impose a fishing ban in December 2024 after the death of several wild animals and large numbers of fish due to the consumption of the lake’s contaminated water. Professor Hilda Matarira, a Chemical Pathologist at the National Health Laboratories and Parirenyatwa Hospital, is one of the authors of the new study and has monitored the water quality of Lake Chivero for almost 25 years. She said the lake’s contamination is rising each year, increasing the risk of cancer for those using its water. She also warned that relying on borehole water as a safer alternative to the lake may not be wise because some boreholes are contaminated with bacteria, heavy metals, and nitrates. Finally, Matarira advised against consuming fish from the lake due to their significant absorption of toxic substances, including mercury.