ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AFFECTING RESORT AREAS IN
THE GWAYI CATCHMENT, RISKS AND MITIGATIONS.
Author: Tsitsi K. Hungwe
BSc. Environmental Science and Health female student (Hons)
Email reply through: tkhungwe@yahoo.co.uk
Co-author: Edward Guzha IWRM Coordinator Gwayi Cacthment
P.O.BOX MR 103 Marlborough
Theme: Water and environment
Oral Presentation
Zimbabweans are discovering the fickle, uncertain nature of the industry as unconnected
events bring the tourism sector to its knees. Many environmental hazards or forces both
natural and manmade have threatened the success stories of the industry to the extent of
causing potential visitors opting to go somewhere else. The tourism industry in Zimbabwe is
the third largest earner of foreign exchange after tobacco and gold. The industry directly
employs around 200,000 people. Local people benefit as they open up businesses and most
profits from the industry are ploughed back into local communities.
Environmental hazards that are affecting resort areas in the Gwayi Catchment of Zimbabwe
include pollution of water, land and air, water shortages, bad publicity of the country,
HIV/Aids and malaria. These environmental hazards either result in reduced number of
tourists or reduced workforce in the industry. The study identifies forces that are a threat to
the resort areas in the Lower Gwayi subcatchment of the Gwayi catchment. The risks they
pose are estimated and feasible mitigation measures are raised to extenuate the risks through
the operationalisation of IWRM in the catchment.
Water samples were analyzed for bacterial and chemical contamination at various points at
the resort areas as it is one of the threats to the resort areas. The results were compared with
WHO guideline values to verify deviation from the norm. Observations of resort areas and
investigations of the health, environmental and political threats were done.
Preliminary findings revealed that there are extensive wildlife deaths due to water shortages,
sewage discharges into water bodies and high pollution from industries. Malaria and
HIV/Aids also affect resort areas, HIV/Aids affect the economically active group of the
population thus resulting in loss of vital labour and skills. Funds are channeled towards
supporting the infected rather than promoting tourism. Tourists fear for their health and
safety and would not visit a malaria infested area or one publicized to be full of violence. The
conclusion is that IWRM is capable of reducing environmental hazards at the same time
promoting socio-economic development.
Key words: Environmental hazards, Integrated Water Resource Management, Millennium
Development Goals, Mitigation, Gwayi catchment