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Writes Edgar Gweshe
Harare is losing its headwater wetlands – sources of water for the capital- at an alarming rate.
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.
Statistics show that over the last two decades, Harare has lost 50% of its wetlands and stakeholders have pointed to the need for urgent action to save the remaining wetlands.
There is consensus among stakeholders for an urgent need to implement measures aimed at protecting Harare’s wetlands from further destruction.
Major threats to Harare’s headwater wetlands include construction, urban agriculture, poaching, pollution, and illegal land occupation through corruption and abuse of power.
Harare continues to witness the construction of buildings on land designated as wetlands and this has negatively impacted water supply and quality as well as sustainable development.
The continued plunder of wetlands has negatively impacted Harare’s water supply and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has raised the red flag over Harare’s water table which has gone drastically low due to the destruction of the capital’s water sources.
In Zimbabwe, wetlands are protected under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) Chapter [CAP] 20:27 no. 13/2002, alongside Statutory Instrument (SI) 7 of 2007, which outlines regulations for Environmental Impact Assessments and Ecosystems Protection.
Enforcing as well as revising policies and legislation on wetlands protection is key in protecting these water sources.
It is also of paramount importance to note that Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) is an important tool that Harare can embrace as it moves to protect its headwater wetlands.
Developed in 2015 under the Ramsar International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands, WCA assists signatories in promoting the conservation and wise use of urban wetlands.
The Ramsar International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands was adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar after which it was named.
It is one of the earliest and most widely adopted international conservation agreements, with a specific focus on the conservation of wetlands.
Zimbabwe became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 2013, at which time it identified and designated seven sites as wetlands of international importance.
Of these 7 Ramsar sites, 3 are in Harare namely Lake Chivero, Cleveland Dam, and Monavale Vlei.
The other Ramsar sites in Zimbabwe are Victoria Falls National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park and Driefontein Grasslands, Lakes Chivero and Manyame, Cleveland Dam and Monavale Wetland.
In pushing for a WCA, signatories can apply to the Ramsar Secretariat for one or more cities to be recognised as wetland cities. This applies to “cases in which a city has a particularly strong and positive relationship with wetlands”.
Harare is no exception and there is an imperative need for Zimbabwe’s capital to align with the dictates of WCA which promote the wise use of wetlands as a basis for sustainable development.
Other perceived benefits of WCA include positive branding opportunities and attracting additional funding to support wetland programmes.
With wetlands being among the major water sources for Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital is an ideal and excellent candidate.
Ramsar invites and reviews applications for WCA on a three-year cycle.
The WCA is intended for contracting parties committed to the wise use of all wetlands in their territory and to maintaining the ecological character of Ramsar Sites.
It is intended for cities located close to Ramsar Sites and/or other significant wetlands.
It provides an incentive system for cities and local communities to establish a positive relationship with constituent wetland ecosystems.
It aims to provide an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.
It acknowledges the importance of local authorities in valuing and conserving wetlands, as well as the benefits provided by wetlands for local populations.
Birdlife Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julia Pierrini says WCA is of critical importance for the City of Harare.
“Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation is important as it denotes official recognition of the critical role of Harare’s headwater wetlands in providing water and other ecosystem services to the city in line with true sustainable development. Ramsar Wetland City Accreditation will also then facilitate access to financing mechanisms for restoration and management of wetlands, our natural infrustructure,” said Pierrini.
Human rights and Environmental Lawyer, Fiona Iliff said WCA is important for Harare adding that wetlands are important from a human rights perspective.
“Harare is a unique city in that it’s built on its headwater wetlands. It’s the catchment area for the downstream rivers and dams and our main water supply; Lake Chivero. The wetlands act as a sponge; absorbing, filtering, and storing water and this ensures the flow of water to Lake Chivero even during the dry season.
“These wetlands provide critical ecosystem services and if these areas are nor maintained in their natural state, they can cause public health risks from water pollution, flooding and siltation in the dams. Wetlands are important from a human rights perspective in terms of the right to a healthy environment for present and future generations. The manner in which wetlands are being destroyed violates a lot of fundamental rights,” said Iliff.
The event will mark the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands.
Zimbabwe is set to host the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, in Victoria Falls from July 23-31, 2025.
The summit will bring together representatives from 172 countries to discuss the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The event comes in the background of the continued degradation of wetlands in Zimbabwe amid calls for an all-stakeholders approach to preserve, restore, and protect the wetlands.
According to the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT), the upcoming COP15 Summit is an ideal opportunity for Zimbabwe to advance commitments on wetlands protection.
“This high-profile event offers a pivotal opportunity to advance both national and regional commitments to wetlands and biodiversity conservation. The timing is also aligned with the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), which calls for urgent efforts to restore degraded ecosystems and protect those that are under threat.
“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.
“Furthermore, it aligns with global targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the climate action goals by enhancing carbon capture, local climate regulation, and resilience to climate change,” said HWT Programmes Manager, Selestino Chari.
