Protected wetland invaded.
The east side of Monavale Vlei wetland in Harare is under threat after yet-to-be-identified individuals started developments on the area possibly for residential purposes.
Zimbabwe ratified the Ramsar Treaty in 2011 and has domesticated provisions for the protection of wetlands under the Environmental Management Act.
Residents had to call the police to evict the invaders after they had resisted instructions from EMA officials who had earlier on been called to stop their illegal developments on the land.
A representative of the Harare Wetland Trust told NewsDay Weekender that they were extremely concerned over the threats being posed to the survival of Monavale Vlei wetland.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), destruction of wetlands has led to a drastic fall in the water table levels within Harare.
Commenting on the threat to Monavale Vlei, Birdlife Zimbabwe said in a statement that water insecurity in Harare was increasing due to the destruction of wetlands.
“The Monavale Ramsar site represents the model of a restored wetland that can and should be duplicated around Harare to ensure the future provisioning of water to the City of Harare in the face of a growing City and a changing climate,” Birdlife Zimbabwe said.
EMA spokesperson Steady Kangata described the developments in Monavale as illegal.
Harare wetlands are among the primary sources of water for residents of Harare.