Source: Residents demand protection of wetlands – DailyNews Live
Farayi Machamire 5 February 2018
HARARE – Scores of Harare residents rallied in the streets on Saturday,
demanding the arrest of land barons, corrupt government officials and the
alignment of laws to preserve wetlands.
This comes as construction activities on wetlands are giving rise to
pollution of underground water.
In some parts of Harare, the water table has also dropped from 18 metres
to 30 metres, making it increasingly difficult to access water.
Peeved by the continued destruction of wetlands, residents commemorated
World Wetlands Day by demonstrating against the destruction of wetlands
and petitioning Parliament to act on perpetrators.
The protesters sang and toyi-toyed, carrying placards emblazoned “No
Future for Harare Without Wetlands”, “Corruption Destroys Wetlands” and
“We Demand Urgent Harmonisation of Laws Governing Wetlands”.
“The march is a way to register concern over the continued destruction of
wetlands which are our water sources in Harare.
“Wetlands are very important in resolving challenges of water provision in
Harare,” said Harare resident Happiness Salije.
In a petition handed to clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda, the residents
called on the National Assembly to establish institutions tasked with
wetlands preservation responsibilities.
Reads part of the petitioners’ plea: “Compel the ministry of Environment,
Water and Climate to complete the re-gazetting of Harare wetlands map,
development of the national environment action plan and direct local
authorities to develop environment friendly master plans.
“Call the Environment Management Agency (Ema), Upper Manyame sub-catchment
council, Zimbabwe National Water Authority and the City of Harare to
answer and account to Parliament on management of wetlands and catchments.
Improve the Environmental Impact Assessment framework and Protection and
Preservation of Wetlands in Harare.”
The petition was undersigned by Harare Wetlands Trust, Community Water
Alliance, Combined Harare Residents Association, Conservation Society of
Monavale, Norton Residents Alliance, Chitungwiza Residents and Ratepayers
Association and Epworth Residents Development Association among others.
A cross section of Harare residents also blamed corruption and abuse of
political power for rampant wetlands destruction.
Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Regulations (SI)
7 of 2007 provides for the protection of wetlands, however, Ema has said
their hands are tied when it comes to stopping any developments on these
marshes.
The Institute of Water and Sanitation indicates that by 2025, there will
be severe water scarcity in Zimbabwe.
COMMENTS
The Levys must be getting worried about the Mall of Zimbabwe again. When Kasukwere moved onto the land in Borrowdale and began to build A Chinese cultural centre they all went quiet, but now that he is being booted off, and the Mall has the go ahead suddenly the wetlands becomes important. When this so called wetland was checked it was found not to carry water below a certain level therefore it aint a wetland. What was found was that sewerage pipes due to stress from Sam Levys village leak into the vlei. One can easily test this by walking by on a warm afternoon and taking in a deep breath