By Fanuel Chinowaita
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Mutasa Youth Forum Trust (MYFT) said occupation in the Wetlands has affected ecosystem, ecotourism, destruction of cultural heritage Sites and hunger in the community.
Speaking to the Wasu Post, MYFT Director Loyd Munguma said many wetlands areas in Mutasa North are occupied by commercial and residential buildings.
He added that this is due to lack of knowledge of the consequences of occupying wetlands and he said his organisation is going to teach people so that they stop occupying wetlands.
“There are Residential and commercial buildings in wetlands in Domborutinhira ward 19, Watsomba ward 17 and 20, Hauna growth pont ward 31 which are affecting ecosystem, ecotourism, destruction of cultural heritage Sites and hunger in the community.
“This is also leading to property damage and risks to the residents because of the buildings instability of the land.
“More so, they causes the natural emission of methane, gas from wetlands.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming easing to climatic change.
“Wetlands including swamps and rice fields naturally produce methane due to their conditions. Building in the wetlands is causing hunger to the community as people used to farm rice, Yama, sugar cane, sweet potatoes and tsenza” said Munguma.
Meanwhile, MYFT and Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition issued a joint statement calling Mutasa Residents to stop occupation of wetlands.
The statement reads, “We MYF Trust & CIZC calls upon the zimbawean, Mutasa Residents among other stakeholders to urgently and immediately called on mutasa residents to stop the unwarranted and perpetual occupation on wetlands around Hauna growth point ward 31, Watsomba business center ward 20, Domborutinhira ward 19 village 4 and 5 which has been earmarked for Granite exploration and mining.
“We call for all concerned stakeholders to broaden their minds and consider the locals youths to venture into life skills, eco- tourism ,employment benefits, cultural heritage sites preservations, academic researches as well as other social and economic benefits.
“On behalf of the local communities we continuously appauld the government of the Zimbabwean republic to observe section 71,72 and 73 of the Zimbabwean constitution, Sustainable Development Goals number 14 among other internationational Treaties. # Together We Can. Conserve Our Nature, Protect our Environment for the benefit of the future!!!”