Corruption Draining Harare Wetlands Dry

OPAQUE governance and structural problems are contributing to Harare’s water woes, say environmentalists in the capital.
The Zimbabwe Environmentalist Lawyers Association (ZELA), a public interest organization that works on environmental justice issues, says there are several reasons why the capital city’s authorities might not be complying with the laws.

In email responses to questions from this publication over the weekend, ZELA expressed concern at the continued destruction of wetlands, especially in and around the sources of Harare’s water supply sources.

Richard Ncube, a legal officer at the organization, says they have it on good authority that city’s environmental activists are embroiled in legal battles with those carrying out developments on the local authority wetlands without compliance with the existing laws.
“First, it can be attributed to lack of will (political) to comply with the laws of our country,” he says, adding: “Secondly, this lack of compliance can again be attributed to corruption between the relevant authorities and the companies and institutions carrying out development projects.”

“Third reason is there is a high possibility that the relevant authorities have no respect for the environmental laws of the country and the rights that enshrined in the Constitution,” he said , explaining that there is therefore a need to continue education communities on their rights and the remedies that bare provided by the aw in case of violation.

Professor Christopher Magadza, an environmentalist and professor with the University of Zimbabwe, weighs in, saying the country has to be serious with its wetlands to avoid looming water problems.

“During my time as a freshman at the University at the turn of the 1970s, there was plenty of flora and fauna on our wetlands but now due to ecological damage, these have just disappeared,” he observed.

“I feel sorry for the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) as they have to bend over backwards in the face of various powerful forces – political and economic,” the retired University scientist told publication.

Sorry?
Yes. Sorry for the developments being carried out on wetlands while the local authorityies look beside helplessly and only saying “we cannot stop development!”

“Wise-use” is the leeway that corrupt authorities use to give approval for developments on and around designated wetlands, notes Prof Magadza in relation to the allegations of corruption by those responsible for environmental management in the local authority.

The Mayor of the City of Harare Councillor Herbert Gomba, did not mince his words, saying bluntly: “Politicians are marshalling their supporters to invade wetlands because they want to win votes,” he informed this paper, explaining: “Just because it’s happening within the city residents assume council has approved these developments. No!”

Greendale Wetlands Trust’s Canaan Mugayi, has no kind words for EMA and the Municipality as the regulatory and local authority respectively.
“With regards to building and construction along the Nyagui River, a tributary of the Muturi River that starts from the Lafarge Cement factory, we doubt if there are any genuine documents and if available they passed through the proper channels,” says the longtime Greendale resident.
One of the developers, Shaun Bennett, is accused of changing the path of the river by diverting it to allow building of residential properties along its natural course and interfering with the flow of water from the small Gletywn dam.

“Although we raised an objection as residents, construction is proceeding at an even faster and furious pace- and we wonder: Is there something that we don’t know going on?” he asks rhetorically.

But Mugayi, who also acts as a volunteer consultant for the trust, has vowed to turn on the screws, saying residents have promised they won’t give in easy.

“We won’t take it lying down and are mobilizing resources to go as far as legally possible – even up to the Supreme Court!” he vowed.
But one of the residents busy building a house on one of the pieces of land under the spotlight refuted the allegations of shady deals.
“It’s a story of intimidation, threats and jealousy – preventing development,” he said on condition of anonymity.

“These so-called environmentalists are always threatening to go to court at each and every stage of our construction,” he says. “But their houses are built on the same wetlands grounds!” argues the tough-talking businessman.

As the water wars continue brewing above the surface, will Harare’s wetlands water continue flowing down under? Or are the city’s residents witnessing the last of these natural water sponges that clean their water as well as regulate the flow of the precious commodity into the city’s supplies?

Only time and developments will tell.
By Patrick Musira