By Staff Reporter
Harare – The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has strongly condemned the continued destruction of wetlands in the capital.
Residents are citing the ongoing construction activities in Tafara near the Mabvuku Cemetery (Gosden area) as evidence of the City of Harare’s disregard for environmental laws and ecological protection.
In a statement released today, CHRA said the wetland area—gazetted in 2023 as ecologically sensitive under Section 113(1) of the Environmental Management Act \[Chapter 20:27]—is being cleared to make way for housing developments, despite its protected status.
“The wetland in question is not only a vital water source for the area but also rich in biodiversity. Allocating stands and allowing construction on such land undermines the critical ecological services it provides for free to surrounding communities,” said CHRA Chairperson David Pasipanodya.
CHRA accused the City of Harare of insincerity and failure to uphold its own spatial planning guidelines, especially while Zimbabwe is hosting the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, where city officials are participating as delegates.
“This ongoing destruction shows blatant defiance of the Environmental Management Agency’s gazetted Wetlands Map and exposes the planning authority’s lack of commitment to sustainable urban development,” said Pasipanodya
CHRA said it had raised concerns as early as October 2024, alerting both the City of Harare and EMA to the pegging of stands in the area. However, no intervention was made. As of 31 July 2025, construction equipment and personnel were seen clearing the land.
The association also rejected the City Council’s repeated claims that housing structures are being erected overnight without the knowledge of local officials.
“These developments are taking place in full view of city authorities. We therefore urge the City of Harare’s Development Control Unit to take decisive action to stop these illegal developments without fear or favour,” said CHRA.
The group emphasized that the destruction of wetlands compromises Harare’s resilience to climate change and risks long-term environmental damage, particularly as the capital faces recurring water shortages and flooding.
