The Environment Management Agency (EMA) has sued one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Varichem for $800 000 on allegations of dumping medical waste along High Glen Road in the capital.
Varichem was nabbed during an on-going inspections for waste dumping in Harare.
EMA manager responsible for Harare, Robson Mavondo, confirmed the issue saying hospital waste is supposed to be incinerated hence they sue the pharmacy and order them to remove the waste.
“Varichem is one of our biggest pharmaceutical companies in Zimbabwe. Today (yesterday), EMA discovered that Varichem was dumping waste along High Glen Road.
“In terms of the EMA Act, medical waste is supposed to be incinerated. So Varichem violated the EMA Act. The agency served the company with an order to remove all the medical waste as well as a ticket amounting to $800 000 for violating the EMA Act,” Mavondo said.
Harare has been grappling with pollution caused by illegal dumping due to the failure by the city fathers to regularly collect waste.
