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 The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has been accused of being ineffective in their mandate to protect the environment, despite having all the legal instruments required to carry out its mandate.
Concern has been raised over the environmental watchdog’s reluctance to stand its ground and protect the environment.
This comes in the wake of numerous cases where the agency has issued orders with no one complying and the culprits eventually getting away with it.
Legal expert, Fortune Chasi queried why EMA can not uphold their rulings yet they have all the legal support needed to take action.
An environmental expert, Mr. Johannes Chigwada said EMA must stand its ground for the benefit of future generations as the environment is being held hostage.
Efforts to get a comment from the agency were fruitless as officials from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management and the Environmental Management Agency continuously referred this reporter from one office to the other and with no results.
Even when the environmental watchdog’s officers were instructed by the Director of Environment in their parent Ministry to give their opinion, they were not able to do so.
EMA was established in terms of the Environmental Management Act chapter 20:27 of 2002.
The agency has been accused of charging paltry fines and not following up on their judgments.
It ordered the construction that is taking place on a wetland near the National Sports Stadium to stop but the building continues to take shape.
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