Story by Oleen Ndori
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe (RPAZ) facility for the management of disused radioactive sources, currently under construction in Harare.
Zimbabwe is home to approximately 200 disused radioactive sources that require secure storage to safeguard both public health and the environment. Once completed, the new facility will provide a safe and secure environment for the containment and management of these hazardous materials.
Vice President Colonel (Rtd) Dr Kembo Mohadi toured the construction site this Friday and expressed concern over the slow pace of the project. He pledged that additional funding would be channelled towards its completion, noting that it is set to become only the second such facility in East and Southern Africa.
“My understanding of the reason why this facility is here is that it has to collect all nuclear waste materials and all radiation materials here, which you cannot see with your own eyes. So the fact that we have done this in Zimbabwe, and we did it with the view that we are growing, our industry is growing, it is going to produce a lot of nuclear waste materials that need to be stored because it is harmful to the environment and also to human beings,” he said.
While commending the initiative, the Vice President said delays in construction were dampening progress.
“I am very much impressed by this, but what actually dampens my spirit is that this thing has been going very slowly. You will find that most of the rooms there are empty; we do not have anything. They were saying that they do not even have a laboratory, and the waste management facility itself is not here at all. Yes, we have started, we are the first in the region, maybe, to have it, but we must do something that is going to be completed… So we are going to see to it that we see this thing completed,” he added.
RPAZ Board Chair Dr Anna Mary Nyakabau said the facility will enable Zimbabwe to properly account for radiation sources and implement long-term solutions to challenges posed by radioactive materials.
“If we can be able to account for the radiation sources and store them safely and securely, it means we are doing a lot for the country. Also, it is a place that can actually serve the region and generate funds for the country,” she said.
Chief Executive Officer of RPAZ, Mr Justice Chipuru said the project sits on a seven-hectare piece of land allocated by the Government to provide integrated infrastructure for the authority.
“This building is phase one of the infrastructure, which will house disused radioactive sources, and the total construction project is US$2.6 million. The second phase will be specialised laboratories at a cost of US$1.1 million, and the administration block, as well as other ancillaries, should cost around US$3.5 million. We are talking slightly below US$8 million that Government is committed to ensuring adequate radiation protection infrastructure in the country,” he said.
Once complete, the facility is expected to meet international safety standards. Beyond meeting national requirements, it will position Zimbabwe to support neighbouring countries in the safe and secure management of disused radioactive sources, strengthening regional cooperation in radiation protection.
