Zimbabwe will host the Conference of Parties on Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in 2025 when wetlands management remains a huge challenge for local authorities as unscrupulous land developers continue decimating the distinct natural ecosystems.
A Signing Ceremony held between the Secretary General of Ramsar Dr Musonda Mumba and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment in Harare recently affirmed Zimbabwe as the official host of COP15 on Ramsar Convention.
The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental Treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Treaty adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
In line with the Ramsar Convention, section 2 of the Environmental Management Act (EMA Act) defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, pea-land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including riparian land adjacent”.
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.
However local authorities in Zimbabwe stand accused of failing to manage wetlands, with municipalities parceling out wetlands for the development and construction of both residential and commercial units.
Despite commitments to the Ramsar Convention, wetlands are disappearing from Zimbabwe because of anthropological activities. Wetlands are being turned into residential areas, with some now a hive of commercial activities where service stations, housing communities, and other business-related facilities have taken over.
In Zimbabwe, wetlands cover 11 717.4km2 which translates to 3% of the total national surface area. According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) the available wetlands, only a fifth are in good or stable condition, 21% are stable, 18 % are severely degraded and 61% are moderately degraded.
Zimbabwe has designated seven wetland sites of international importance covering 453,828 of land.
It has emerged that notwithstanding the vital role local authorities should play in wetlands protections, some of these local authorities have little regard for environmental laws, and at times development proceeds under their nose even if it violates environmental laws.
Notwithstanding obligations to develop Local Environment Action Plans (LEAP) master plans of local authorities on managing and protecting their environments, councils are complicit in the destruction of wetlands.
Currently in Mutare residents are up in arms with the municipality for the sale of a wetland to a private developer, with some quarters writing directly to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing, urging swift government intervention to protect and preserve the wetland.
The area in question is situated on stand number 7568 in the Tigers Kloof Murambi area, where this recognized low-density wetland is facing an existential threat from a proposed construction of 23 cluster homes.
As pressure mounts for the council to immediately halt this destructive development, Mutare city council’s acting Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka has admitted to the error of judgment from city fathers.
Speaking during a quarterly budget review meeting held in the city recently Chafesuka revealed that the agreement for the sale of the property was done by predecessors, urging the public to make use of the public gazetting of the development plan to lodge their reservations.
“We could have erred as council, but this sale was done by the previous council, and we cannot disown that decision now. It is up to the public to use the opportunity now to air their reservations on this development,” he said.
Similarly, in Harare there has been the construction of wetlands, parceling out of residential and commercial stands, with the standout being the controversial development of Long Chen Plaza on a lush wetland ecosystem.
We are hopeful that the hosting of the COP 15 convention will be a jolt to the governing powers to pay more attention to the environmental protection of the wetlands and adherence to the environmental laws.