Assessing Challenges of Enforcing Water Pollution Control Regulations on “Small Business Enterprises and, Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Activities” in the Developing Countries: Zimbabwe Perspective

Abstract

Economic paradigm shift from large scale activities to small-scale activities evolving in Zimbabwe, has resulted in emergence of unique wastewater generating sources, characterized by large numbers and ability to be nomadic, moving from one location to another, leading to the phenomena of shifting water pollution sources. This assessment found how challenging implementation of water pollution control legislation for regulatory authorities is, due to absence of ‘economies of scale referencing’ in the legislation which primarily had been drafted for large scale economic activities. Small business entities find it difficult to apply and pay for pollution fees as the legislation currently consider wastewater generators similarly, without factoring in production scales. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) evade water control regulations by installing illegal discharge channels which are easily concealed to regulators and some resort to night operations to avoid scrutiny. Lack of appropriate and affordable technology for small scale wastewater treatment, is another hinderance to successful implementation of water pollution control regulations. Highly, spaced pollution sites of MSME affect the ability of regulatory authorities to visit all sites and carryout effective monitoring for adherence to water pollution control legislation. Zimbabwe, to achieve halving water pollution as envisaged by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG6) need to cover all sources of water pollution by empowering the small enterprises sector by availing financial incentives for development of low-cost wastewater treatment technologies for use by this sector.