The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has launched a compliance crackdown on businesses operating standby generators without emissions licences, warning that offenders risk fines. Under Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), generators with a power rating above 5KVA must be licensed due to their potential to pollute the air through fossil fuel combustion.
In a statement, EMA Harare manager Leon Mutungamiri said the agency is monitoring trade premises across Harare Metropolitan Province, targeting non-compliant operators. “Generators are significant air pollutant sources. As with any air-emitting device, they must comply with licensing regulations under the law,” Mutungamiri stated.
The enforcement push excludes households but applies to all business entities. EMA is actively issuing non-compliance tickets to those operating without permits. Statutory Instrument 72 of 2009 outlines the legal framework supporting the crackdown, including penalties for unauthorized emissions.
Businesses have been urged to visit EMA offices to acquire the necessary documentation. “No operator should emit pollutants without a licence,” Mutungamiri emphasized, citing the law’s mandate to curb air pollution and protect public health.
