By Johnson Siamachira
Harare, (New Ziana) — As dawn breaks over Lake Chivero, approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, a quiet urgency fills the air. Fishermen cast their fishing gear, and families gather resources for their daily needs, all relying on the wetlands that surround them.
Beneath this tranquil surface, however, Zimbabwe’s wetlands face an uncertain future. Pollution, urbanisation, and climate change are relentlessly pushing these vital ecosystems to the brink of collapse.
Wetlands are crucial for biodiversity and natural water filtration, yet they are under siege. Urban sprawl encroaches on their borders, whileagricultural runoff taints their waters. Conservationists warn that without immediate action, Zimbabwe risks losing not only its wetlands but the myriad species and communities that depend on them.
“We can’t rely on summer rainfall runoff alone,” says Dorothy Wakeling, program manager for the Conservation Society of Monavale (COSMO) in Harare.
“Wetland ecosystems keep streams and rivers flowing year-round, even during dry months and droughts. If we destroy these areas through cultivation, construction, and mining, we are jeopardising our water supply.”
Wakeling emphasises the paradox: “We can’t blame climate change if we destroy the very ecosystems that mitigate its effects. Zimbabwe is a headwater wetland country, where streams originate. If we destroy our headwater wetlands, we have nowhere else to turn for water.”
The biodiverse grassland headwater wetlands of the Upper Manyame Catchment Basin are the lifeblood of Harare’s natural environment. These ecosystems generate the streams that feed into rivers flowing downstream to the city’s storage dam, Lake Chivero. They also replenish the city’s groundwater, provided their biodiversity remains intact.
According to the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), wetlands cover only 3 per cent of Zimbabwe’s area, yet seven are designated as Wetlands of International Importance. Alarmingly, ZELA reports that while 21 per cent of the country’s wetlands are stable, 18 per cent are severely degraded and 61 per cent moderately degraded. A 2021 ZELA report highlights the alarming trend of converting wetlands into residential areas, and transforming them into “hives of commercial activity.”
Founded in 2005, COSMO advocates for the restoration and protection of critical habitats, drawing from its successful experience in restoring Monavale Vlei with expert guidance from ecologists and other environmentalists. Monavale Vlei serves as a biodiversity and management model for restoring all headwater wetlands in Harare and Zimbabwe. This
Ramsar site supports a rich variety of grasses, plants, birds, mammals,
rodents, amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles.
Wakeling underscores COSMO’s initiatives aimed at reducing biodiversity
loss through restoration projects, educational outreach, and wetland
research at the tertiary level. “We are not just protecting the
wetlands; we are engaging communities and advocating for policies that
prioritise wetland preservation,” she insists.
COSMO collaborates with BirdLife Zimbabwe (BLZ), the City of Harare, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, as well as the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT), formed in 2016, to broaden collective efforts to safeguard Zimbabwe’s wetlands.
In recent years, COSMO, BLZ, and HWT have partnered with local schools and universities to conduct educational programmes on the importance of wetlands. “With other partners, we are influencing policymakers to close loopholes in wetland protection legislation. We want to ensure our wetlands are restored and protected for future water provisioning,” Wakeling adds.
Dr Leonard Unganai, a climate science expert at Oxfam, an international non-governmental organization (NGO), attributes much of this degradation to human activity, particularly unchecked urban expansion and agricultural practices.
Zimbabwe has been a Ramsar Convention signatory since 2013, which guides the management of wetlands. In 2017, Zimbabwe designated seven wetlands of national and international importance as Ramsar sites: Cleveland Dam, Chinhoyi Caves Recreational Park, Driefontein Grasslands, Lakes Chivero and Manyame, Mana Pools National Park, Monavale Wetland, and Victoria Falls National Park.
EMA, in consultation with partners, has produced National Wetlands Guidelines and a Zimbabwe Wetlands Map. It is also reviewing the Environmental Management Act to enhance the conservation of wetland ecosystems.
“These guidelines will help regulate activities that threaten our wetlands and ensure effective conservation efforts,” said Aaron Chigona, EMA’s director general.
Dr Patrice Talla, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s subregional coordinator for Southern Africa, notes that the FAO supports the Zimbabwe government’s efforts to restore damaged wetlands and promote responsible use.
Despite these initiatives, challenges remain. Phanuel Mangisi, the Ramsar Convention national focal person and Environmental Impact Assessment manager at EMA, points out that illegal developments and weak law enforcement continue to threaten many wetlands. “Stronger collaboration between government, NGOs, and local communities is essential to safeguard these ecosystems,” he explains..
The government’s commitment to international conventions like Ramsar marks a significant shift in conservation efforts, but effective implementation of these policies is the true test.
“We have the opportunity to turn the tide,” Wakeling says, her voice filled with hope. “If we work together—communities, NGOs, and the government—we can save our wetlands for ourselves and future generations.”
As the sun sets over the wetlands, casting golden hues across the water, the call for action resonates louder than ever. Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads, with the chance to preserve not only its wetlands but the very essence of its ecological biodiversity and heritage. The journey ahead will be stiff and requires unwavering commitment, but the stakes could not be higher.
New Ziana
