By Heather Buzuzi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harare\u2019s wetlands, crucial for the city\u2019s water security and ecological balance, are facing a crisis. Despite existing policies meant to protect them, illegal developments and agricultural activities continue to threaten their survival. Dr. Rob Cunliffe of the Zimbabwe Wetlands Trust has warned that if urgent action is not taken, the city\u2019s water supply will be severely compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a recent review of the City of Harare\u2019s (COH) draft environment and climate policy, Dr. Cunliffe criticized the current approach, saying it fails to recognize the full value of wetlands. \u201cWetlands work for water,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are not wastelands; they are the natural infrastructure that collects, stores, and releases clean water to the city\u2019s supply dams.\u201d He argued that these fragile ecosystems should be zoned strictly for water provisioning and not for development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite existing legal protections, wetlands are still being lost to construction projects and agricultural activities. \u201cThe reality is that the so-called protective instruments are not working,\u201d Dr. Cunliffe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is still possible to get authorizations from EMA and COH to build on wetlands, and the destruction is continuing at an alarming rate.\u201d He pointed out that allowing any form of development, even so-called \u2018soft options\u2019 like golf courses or car washes, compromises the wetlands\u2019 ability to provide clean water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most controversial elements of the draft policy is its suggestion to conduct further research on the impacts of wetland cultivation. Dr. Cunliffe dismissed this idea as unnecessary and dangerous. \u201cThere is already enough research proving that wetlands are lost if cultivated. Why are we even considering this when wetlands are under such severe threat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged COH to take stronger measures, including formally recognizing existing wetland maps, zoning all wetlands as water provisioning areas, and restoring those that have already been damaged. \u201cWe need to move beyond vague commitments,\u201d he said. \u201cNo new development permits should be issued for wetlands, and illegal structures must not be regularized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also called for an end to agriculture on wetlands, stating, \u201cGrowing crops on wetlands is not sustainable. It disrupts the natural balance, and in the long run, it destroys the very land people rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Cunliffe further recommended that COH relocate legal housing settlements built in flood-prone wetlands and return wetland areas to public ownership. \u201cMany of these spaces have been sold off to private developers, but wetlands belong to the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need a serious program to reclaim them, whether through lease cancellations, land swaps, or compensation schemes.\u201d He also stressed the importance of community involvement in wetland conservation. \u201cOrdinary people must be part of the solution. Civil society should be actively engaged in managing and restoring wetlands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harare\u2019s wetlands are at a tipping point. If action is not taken, the city risks losing its natural water sources and increasing the likelihood of severe water shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWetlands are not empty spaces waiting to be developed,\u201d Dr. Cunliffe warned. \u201cThey are the lifeblood of our city\u2019s water system. If we don\u2019t protect them now, we will all suffer the consequences.\u201d The question remains\u2014will the authorities listen before it is too late?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Heather Buzuzi Harare\u2019s wetlands, crucial for the city\u2019s water security and ecological balance, are facing a crisis. Despite existing policies meant to protect them, illegal developments and agricultural activities continue to threaten their survival. Dr. Rob Cunliffe of the Zimbabwe Wetlands Trust has warned that if urgent action is not taken, the city\u2019s water…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[55,56],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news","tag-harare-city-council","tag-ministry-of-local-authority"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/wetlands.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":286,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions\/286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}