Fuel Harare’s worsening water crisis
tions that Harare requires an estimated US$2 million every month to buy water chemicals.
Statistics show that 20% of Lake Chivero’s storage capacity has been lost due to siltation.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Ramsar International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands and has seven internationally recognized sites including Lake Chivero.
Other internationally recognised wetlands under the Ramsar Convention include Monavale Vlei, Cleveland Dam, Victoria Falls, Chinhoyi Caves, Mana Pools and Driefontein Grasslands.
In Harare, Monavale Vlei and Cleveland dam have not been spared from unsustainable human practices.
Cleveland Action Alliance director, Jimmy Mahachi said: “Currently there is massive sand mining on the wetland, which is going on unabated.
“Agricultural activities are also rampant in the wetland area.”
Cleveland Dam is located in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mabvuku, which has some areas that have gone for nearly three decades without tape water.
Community Water Alliance director Hardlife Mudzingwa acknowledged that human activities were among the contributing factors to Harare’s water crisis.
“It is unfortunate that we have human activities contributing to the depletion of wetlands within the city and this is also contributing to the crisis of WASH delivery in Harare,” Mudzingwa said.
Mudzingwa said sand poaching and farming are the biggest threats to wetlands.
“Once a wetland is disturbed, we will not be able to get the natural ecosystem services that it provides, which include purification of raw water to improve quality and reduce the cost of purification,” Mudzingwa said.
“Recharge of streams is also affected and this also results in flash floods across the city.”
Sustainable development expert, Anna Brazier said there are activities, which if carefully controlled, can help in the protection of wetlands in Harare.
“Large wetland areas can be turned into recreational parks (for walkers, dog walkers, bird watching) as long as the activities are carefully controlled,” Brazier said.
“It is also possible to practice certain types of agriculture on wetlands as long as they are carefully regulated.
“No synthetic fertilisers or pesticides can be used, no ploughing and the types of crops planted has to be appropriate.
“If such rules are followed people can benefit from wetlands without disrupting their function.”
Failure to prioritise protection of wetlands, corruption related to land allocations and issuance of environmental impact assessment certificates (EIAs) on wetlands has also led to their destruction.
Harare Residents Trust director, Precious Shumba criticised local authorities for continuing to issue construction permits in wetland areas.
“Council committees responsible for the protection of wetlands and the environment are approving change or land use from open spaces, wetlands and recreational facilities to housing developments without even bothering to consult the ratepayers who elected them into office,” Shumba said.
“Citizen participation in the determination of safeguarding wetlands has become a peripheral issue, yet should be at the heart of all public policy.”
There is concern among environmentalists that Harare’s land use plans are failing to factor in the need for wetlands protection hence the continued depletion of the water sources.
Harare’s master plan was last updated in 1992. According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, illegal activities on headwater wetlands have led to the city’s water table going down drastically.
EMA spokesperson, Amkela Sidange said they are working with communities on wetlands preservation across the country.
“Section 113 of the EMA as read with Statutory 7 of 2007 clarifies the issue of wetlands utilization and when you see an activity happening on a wetland without the authority from the agency, that activity is illegal,” Sidange said.
“Wetlands act as water valves that recharge underground and surface water and if you look at Harare’s wetlands, they are headwater wetlands and act as sources of water.”