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Writes Edgar Gweshe
The Member of Parliament for Epworth North, Zivai Mhetu, has expressed concern over the rampant destruction of wetlands for housing purposes in his constituency.
In an interview, Mhetu said land barons were largely behind the invasion of wetlands in the area.
If left unchecked, this unfortunate trend will adversely affect the water supply and pose a huge threat to sustainable development, Mhetu said.
“Our major problem is the issue of land barons who are allocating residential stands in wetlands. This is regrettable because wetlands are important sources of water and if we continue to invade them it means that soon we will run out of water. We are appealing to responsible authorities to ensure that our wetlands are protected and no developments are allowed to take place on these wetlands,” said Mhetu.
He said that consultations with the government are currently underway to find alternative places for residents settled on wetlands.
“Building on wetlands also poses a danger to these families, especially during the rainy season we have identified some farms near Epworth and we are liaising with the government to facilitate the relocation of families settled on wetlands. We are also glad that the new Master Plan for Epworth speaks to the issue of wetlands protection,” said Mhetu.
Land invasions are common in Epworth with wetlands being targeted for residential purposes.
Harare’s headwater wetlands which serve as water sources have largely been under threat due to factors such as unplanned developments, urban farming, pollution, and sand mining among other factors.
According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), 82% of the country’s wetlands are moderately to severely degraded, with only 18% remaining in a relatively undisturbed state (Zimbabwe National Wetlands Policy, 2022). Harare has seen a dramatic loss of 50% of its wetlands over the last two decades, and without urgent action, the city risks losing the remaining wetlands in the coming few years.
Mhetu said community stewardship is key to ensuring wetlands protection in Harare.
“Ward and Constituency Development Committees must be given the power to monitor and report developments on wetlands. It is also important to ensure that they enjoy protection from the law in the course of doing their duties,” said Mhetu.
He said that an all stakeholders approach is critical in ensuring the protection of Harare’s wetlands adding that community mobilisation and education programmes are equally important.
Zimbabwe is set to host the Ramsar Convention 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) in July next year and according to the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT), the high-level meeting provides an opportunity to advance national and regional commitments on wetlands and biodiversity conservation.
The country has seven wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention with three of them namely Lake Chivero, Cleveland Dam, and Monavale Vlei located in Harare.
Other Ramsar sites in Zimbabwe include Victoria Falls National Park, Drifontein Grasslands, Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park, and Mana Pools Recreational Park.
The Programmes Manager for HWT, Selection Chari said wetlands protection is essential for the attainment of national development goals.
“The ongoing degradation of wetlands has severe implications for the City of Harare’s future development, particularly in the quest for climate-smart cities. The loss of wetlands threatens to worsen the already critical water shortages driven by rapid population growth and urban development, which in turn places immense pressure on existing water resources. Wetlands play a critical role in water purification, flood control, and sustaining biodiversity, all of which are essential for the well-being of urban populations.
Improved management and protection of wetlands are essential to ensuring healthy ecosystems that can provide clean water, support biodiversity, and contribute to national development goals. Wetland conservation directly supports the objectives of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), including the attainment of national biodiversity and livelihood objectives,” said Chari.
