Public Safety And Health Is Key To Human Beings ZHRC Chairperson Says
By Desire Tshuma
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), led by Chairperson Ms. F. J. Majome, recently conducted a visit to the Firle Sewage Treatment Plant and Morton Jeffrey Water Treatment Plant in Harare, accompanied by media representatives. This visit was part of an ongoing effort to monitor and investigate human rights issues in Zimbabwe, particularly those related to environmental degradation and public health.
During the visit, the commission gained a comprehensive understanding of the operational procedures and infrastructure management at these facilities. The visit was prompted by concerns over public safety and health, particularly in light of recent incidents, including the unfortunate deaths of City of Harare workers at the Firle Sewage Treatment Plant.
“As the commission, we emphasize the commitment to monitoring, investigating, and advocating for accountable governance and sustainable service delivery to safeguard public health and safety. Our visit aims to assess the current state of the facilities and identify areas for improvement to prevent future incidents and ensure the protection of workers’ rights and the environment ” Majome said .
According to one of City of Harare workers stationed at Firle Sewage Treatment Plant who spoke on anonymity , he said there are no protective clothing that are given to workers . ” Our lives are in danger and we are exposed to dangers as you see by your own that we are just putting on our personal clothing, no safety clothing totally . We don’t know why our superiors don’t value our lives like this. We see our bosses buying expensive luxurious cars but cannot manage to purchase our saftey clothing ” said one of the workers.
The ZHRC’s visit to the Firle Sewage Treatment Plant and Morton Jeffrey Water Treatment Plant underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing environmental and public health issues in Zimbabwe.
