THE STATUS OF AIR POLLUTION IN

ZIMBABWE

Air Pollution is the introduction of substances or surplus energy as waste products of

human activities into the atmosphere which directly or indirectly adversely alter or

destroy the quality of the environment or cause undesirable effects on man, animals,

vegetation or materials. The wastes may be gaseous or particulate emissions.

In recent years Zimbabwe has experienced a rapid expansion in the national vehicle

population, increased investment in the manufacturing sector and higher energy demand.

These have resulted in high emission rates of major air pollutants resulting in

deterioration of the ambient air quality especially in the major cities of Harare,

Bulawayo,Gweru,Mutare andKwekwe.

 

SOURCES AND TYPES OF POLLUTANTS

There are natural as well as anthropogenic (i.e. human-induced) sources. The major

human activities that generate the bulk of air pollutants are transportation, industrial

processes, industrial and non-industrial fugitive processes, the energy production, waste

management and agricultural activities.

Transportation

Transportation is a major source of air pollutants. Vehicles are probably the largest single

source of pollutants such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Other

harmful emissions include as lead, benzene, arsenic,aldehydes,sulphates, particulate

matter and the secondary creation of ozone. The lead content of petrol is 4 g/

l which ishigher than the permitted levels in other parts of the world. The national vehicle

population has significantly increased in recent years. 

 

The main problem associated with this rapid growth in vehicle population in the

major cities is increase concentration of line and area emission sources due to road

congestion at peak times. The stock of vehicles is quite old and they lack emission

control equipment. High import tariffs on vehicles and the absence of emission standards

means that the country will continue to be flooded with imports of low cost second-hand

vehicles that do not meet strict emission standards of the counties of their origin.