…Minister Daniel Garwe warns of health risks as authorities say EIA, water concerns remain unresolved
HARARE — Government and the Harare City Council have jointly condemned plans to resume operations at Watervlei Burial Park, declaring the private cemetery project along Seke Road illegal due to unresolved statutory, health and environmental requirements.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and the City of Harare jointly said the development poses grave risks to public health, water infrastructure and the environment, and cannot proceed in its current form.
The condemnation follows media reports that developers intend to open the first phase of the burial park this October.
Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Daniel Garwe, said government would not compromise on compliance.
“The Ministry will not allow any development that puts the lives of citizens at risk. Watervlei has not complied with the law. The developer must first satisfy all statutory requirements, including a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and approvals from all relevant authorities, before any burials can take place. We are taking a whole-of-government approach to protect our people and the environment,” Minister Garwe said.
City Council spokesperson Mr Stanley Gama said the local authority’s position had not changed, insisting that the project had not met all the necessary statutory requirements.
“A town planning permit was granted, but subsequent processes stalled,” said Gama.
“The issuance of an operating licence by the Director of Health Services is still pending. Harare Water also has concerns about the establishment because it is too close to our water lines and the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.”
Gama said the city’s technical departments had also declined to approve the cemetery project, citing the potential risks it poses to Harare’s water infrastructure and public health.
“The Ministry of Health is of the view that any new burials in the area are unacceptable,” he said.
He added that the Environmental Impact Assessment associated with the project had also failed to adequately address key issues.
“I am informed that the EIA was criticised for lack of comprehensiveness, especially during the consultative process,” said Mr Gama.
He said recent media reports suggesting the resumption of the project were misleading and did not reflect the position of the city fathers.
“So, the article is, to some extent, misleading.”
The Ministry added that allowing the cemetery to operate without meeting legal requirements would expose residents to potential groundwater contamination, given that the site is located in a dolomitic area that feeds into Harare’s water sources.
Officials noted that the conditional planning permit issued in February 2025 by Harare’s Acting Director of Urban Planning Services was subject to the developer fulfilling specific conditions. To date, those conditions remain outstanding.
“The key outstanding issues include approval of a comprehensive EIA by the Environmental Management Agency, issuance of an operating licence by the City’s Director of Health Services,clearance from Harare Water regarding proximity to water lines and the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant
and stakeholders consultations with affected communities,” cited a resident who has since mooted approaching his lawyers.
Residents’ associations in surrounding areas have also petitioned authorities, raising concerns over possible contamination of boreholes and inadequate buffer zones.
Both the Ministry and Council warned that any burials conducted without the requisite approvals would be illegal and attract prosecution in terms of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act and the Public Health Act.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. Enforcement teams from Council, EMA and the Ministry will take necessary action should the developer proceed in defiance of the law,” Gama said.
Inside sources from Harare Water Department also told this publication that they received a strongly worded letter last week from the Prince Edward Waterworks plant technical team who condenmed the resumption of the project and described it as a “health time bomb” and “catastrophic”.
Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all developments comply with the law and do not compromise public health, safety and the environment.
Effort to get a comment from Watervlei project manager Ismail Nawabawa hit a snag as he was unreachable at the time of writing.