Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Local authorities have been urged to stop allocating residential stands on wetlands as the ecosystems are vital for livelihoods and a legacy for future generations, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Stembiso Nyoni made the call during the launch of the Sustainability Monograph for the City of Bulawayo on Tuesday.
The document outlines the city’s ambitious target of achieving a 40 percent reduction in per capita emissions by 2050, in line with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Global Net Zero Goal.
The City of Bulawayo is one of 100 cities that received funding and technical assistance from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new Youth Climate Action Fund to spur a groundswell of youth-driven climate action.
The fund will provide technical assistance and funding for 100 mayors to activate tens of thousands of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years to design, produce, and govern urgent climate solutions in cities across the globe.
Nyoni said the government is actively working to revive wetlands across the country, but stressed the need for cooperation from local authorities.
“We want to move city by city, district by district, and province by
province to revive wetlands, but we need the cooperation of local
authorities,” she said.
She expressed concern over councils allocating land for construction on wetlands, which she said complicates the work of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“This is where the Ministry faces challenges. Councils are selling land for construction on wetlands, and when people approach EMA for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), the agency rejects their applications. This leads to conflicts between the public and the Ministry,” she explained.
Nyoni said destroying wetlands equates to destroying the future for generations to come.
“Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands Dr Musonda Mumba explained to me that water has a memory of where it flows,” she said.
“He further said if we allow people to build on wetlands, the water will not forget its path. When floods occur, those houses will be submerged. If wetlands reclaim their space, the structures built on them will crack because water knows its course,” she explained.
Nyoni commended the Bulawayo City Council for implementing the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which integrates environmental conservation into strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
She also announced that Zimbabwe will host the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls in April this year, showcasing the country’s leadership in environmental stewardship.
“This convention is not just about preserving wetlands, it’s about recognising them as life-support systems for cities battling climate change. It’s not just about urban areas but also rural communities. As a Ministry, we are committed to reviving wetlands because they are integral to people’s livelihoods,” she said.
New Ziana
