By A Correspondent

The government has enforced a ban on fishing at Lake Chivero until comprehensive investigations by the Ministry of Health and Child Care are concluded. The ban follows a significant environmental disaster, with reports of water contamination leading to the loss of wildlife and aquatic life in the area.

At a media briefing held at Munhumutapa Building in Harare on Thursday, Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni, the Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, spoke candidly about the crisis. She labeled the situation at Lake Chivero as critical and emphasized the need for an integrated approach to address the severe pollution and ecological disruptions affecting the lake.

“Going forward, we will rope in the Ministry of Health to do the finding because we want to save lives. The ban cannot be lifted now and a whole of government and stakeholders’ approach is required to reverse the situation at Chivero,” stated Minister Nyoni.

The fishing ban comes after alarming reports of poisoning in the water, which has caused widespread damage to both animal and aquatic populations. While the Ministry of Environment has been at the forefront of managing the crisis, questions are being raised about the adequacy of government actions.

Critics argue that the government’s shifting of responsibility onto the Ministry of Health highlights a failure to address the root causes of the disaster effectively. Many believe that the continued environmental degradation at Lake Chivero could have been prevented with earlier and more decisive action. The shifting of blame has left some questioning the government’s ability to handle such a major environmental catastrophe.