Traditional leaders in Binga and Hwange districts have added their weight to calls for the restoration of ecological assets as the degradation of wetlands continues countrywide. Despite all the legal provisions, human activities have continued on wetlands thereby threatening their existence. Wetlands are drying up due to human activities such as illegal settlements, cultivation, mining, cutting down trees have caused wetlands to dry up.
In separate interviews, traditional leaders in Hwange and Binga said some known wetlands had dried up. “We used to know of some swampy areas along the Zambezi River but those have disappeared because of invasion by people. Some were sources of clean water while some had some cultural importance,” said Chief Mvuthu. He said there is need to revisit some of the human activities to protect some natural resources.
Chief Shana, also from Hwange said some people illegally settled themselves or farm on wetlands. “When we were growing up we knew wetlands to be a source of water and grazing pastures. Some had water springs that provided clean water all year round and were sacred but we have violated all these and they no longer have water gushing out,” said the Chief.
Even the hot springs in Binga are reportedly showing signs of extinction as the amount of water gushing out has been reduced and traditional leaders have attributed this to human activities. Chief Sinamagonde of Binga said traditional leaders should be given powers through environmental laws to punish people who degrade wetlands.
“We used to have wetlands in some places but they have all disappeared. I think we need to give back the power to monitor wetlands to traditional leaders so that we appease our ancestors and restore them,” he said.
A wetland is any area of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, and includes riparian land adjacent to the wetland. It also includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, and other coastal areas, coral reefs and all man-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and salt pans.
If well managed, wetlands can help address climate change effects because they provide water, food, habitat, flood and erosion control, and opportunities for recreation and tourism. In some communities, environmentalists have helped villagers to reclaim some of the wetlands which are providing a source of water for domestic use, nutritional gardens and livestock
Zimbabwe came up with a wetlands policy in 2021 in response to, especially sprouting of illegal housing developments and farming activities on wetlands.
