Source: Dozens of wetlands gazetted as protected areas – herald
Herald Reporter
THE Government has officially gazetted dozens of wetlands across the country as protected ecologically sensitive areas, a move that immediately bans any development on these sites unless strict environmental conditions are met.
The declaration, which carries legal force, means that construction, land clearing or any form of activity that alters these wetlands is now prohibited unless developers obtain environmental approval through a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The notice was issued by Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu in a recent Government Gazette, in terms of the Environmental Management Act.
“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has, in terms of sections 113(1) and 140 of the Environmental Management Act (‘the Act’), declared the mapped wetlands in the attached schedule as protected ecologically sensitive areas,” reads part of the notice.
The Minister said detailed coordinates for each wetland will be made available for public inspection at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) offices in Bluffhill, Harare.
The declaration means that no development may take place on these wetlands unless the developer complies with the provisions of the Act, including the submission and approval of a full Environmental Impact Assessment in line with section 97 of the law and Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no public landfalling within or making up a wetland shall be developed without consultation and formal approval of the Environmental Management Agency,” the notice further states.
By gazetting these areas as protected ecologically sensitive zones, the Government has created a legal framework that significantly strengthens the protection of wetlands.
Under this new designation, all forms of construction are banned unless a developer conducts a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and demonstrates that the proposed activity will not harm the wetland.
Local authorities are no longer permitted to allocate, sell or approve residential stands or any other developments on these wetlands without the direct involvement and approval of EMA.
The declaration also empowers the authorities to remove illegal structures built on wetlands, and those responsible for such developments can now be prosecuted in terms of the law.
Importantly, the move ensures that wetlands are preserved as vital natural water reserves, flood-control systems and essential habitats for biodiversity.
In cities like Harare, wetlands that feed Lake Chivero – the capital’s main water source – have been extensively built over, contributing to chronic water supply issues.
The gazetting, therefore, gives EMA stronger legal authority to stop development before irreversible damage occurs.
In Masvingo Province, more than 30 wetlands were identified and declared protected.
These include the NSSA ecologically sensitive aea located on the south-eastern side of Masvingo, the Zimdef–Shagashe waterway, which flows towards Nemamwa, the Sundown-Shagashe River wetland, and the Poly-Mucheke ecological zone that stretches northeast from Masvingo Polytechnic.
In Manicaland Province, more than 20 wetlands located in and around Mutare were gazetted.
Among them are the Acid Chikanga ecologically sensitive area near Acid Shops in ZIMTA Park, the Cecil Kopje ecologically sensitive area situated about 2km from the Mutare city centre, and the Mapembe ecologically sensitive area.
Mashonaland West Province also features several newly protected wetlands, particularly around Chinhoyi.
These include the Orange Grove and Riverside-Chinhoyi wetlands located along the Chinhoyi-Karoi Highway, as well as the Hunyani ecological zone to the south-east of the town.
In Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, more than 20 wetlands were also designated as protected ecologically sensitive areas.
The gazetting comes at a time when wetlands across Zimbabwe have suffered widespread degradation, particularly in urban areas.
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