Local environmental advocacy groups, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) and the Network for Environmental and Climate Justice (NECJ) have called for the protection of wetlands in the country amidst property developments.
In an interview, ZELA underscored the need for a comprehensive review of the existing policy and legal framework governing the management of wetlands.
“To ensure wetlands are a reality in the future, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association
recommends the following: Constant review of the policy and legal framework for the management of wetland ecosystems to ensure fines and penalties in the EMA Act are prohibitive.
“Local authorities must create and (or) enforce policies for constant restoration, creation, and
enhancement of wetlands. The Environmental Management Agency must scale up the monitoring of wetlands to curb invasion by developers and land barons.
“Civil society organizations must collaborate with the government to advise on environmental policy, national goals and priorities and to give directions about enforcing the EMA Act,” ZELA said.
Echoing similar sentiments, the Network for Environmental and Climate Justice (NECJ) directed
attention towards the urgent need to revise the masterplan of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
“In Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, wetlands are the major source of water after run-off but they continue to be lost due to several activities that include unsustainable agricultural practices, sand mining, poor enforcement of the law, illegal construction activities and pollution.
“At a time, the city is using an outdated master plan, the demand for land for construction or housing purposes is continuously increasing in Harare and consequently, these projects are being undertaken at the detriment of wetland ecosystems.
“Proper land use planning in Harare should incorporate the need to protect wetlands in line with the vision of sustainable development of the capital,” said NECJ.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Ramsar convention, which is a global inter- governmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The treaty obligates Zimbabwe to conserve wetlands that act as sponges, store water and act as flood controllers and carbon sinks that purify and supply water to water sources such as streams and dams.
