We are for wise-use of wetlands: Nyagui catchment sub-council chair
They announce their arrival in top-of-the-range vehicles; are attired in branded gear; and are usually found eating out at top restaurants. And now Zimbabwe’s noveau riche are – amid all the whining and moaning due to the prevailing economic challenges – have found a and innovative way to move on : burrowing hills in the plush formerly whites-only northern suburbs and building on water!
“They are building o right in the middle of wetlands!” allege old money and environmental activists.
But the upwardly mobile are smart – and know where they are going and how to get there.
Take Peg Simba Makuchete – one of those building in the scenic rolling hills.
He’s the big cheese at Smacper, a major player in the printing and packaging field – who has bought a 6 000 square-metre stand from Southgate and Bancroft – one of the country’s largest real estate developers and is busy building a 5-bedroomed double storey on the scenic undulating hills.
“We got approval from City Of Harare to build on this piece of land and another approval from the Environment Management Authority (EMA) outlining the correct way to build on the wetland,” says the heavily-built managing director.
“After all, the issue of peri-urban wetlands has come on the agenda fairly recently – way after we had made plans on putting our residence here,” he says, producing a letter from the EMA director-general giving approval.”
“EMA has got experts and they also have engineers and who advise us on each and every stage,” he adds.
The issue of developing on wetlands is not unique to Harare (see Map below) or Zimbabwe only. And people across the globe are finding innovative ways to develop and mitigate any negative impacts – like the Makuchetes after they joined this scheme with a several dozen other home owners in the Glen Lorne hills north-east of the capital.
Wetlands are distinct ecosystems in themselves and are considered as one of the most biologically diverse.
They provide multiple benefits such as flood control, water purification, or wastewater treatment, and can promote water uses like urban gardening and thereby enhance human well-being. Particularly urban wetlands (natural or constructed) not only make the environment aesthetically more enjoyable but also make urban areas liveable by providing many benefits and making cities develop into more sustainable areas.
Makuchete knows shallow vegetated wetlands have the capacity to intercept chemicals, including microplastics, as well as agricultural run-off such as nitrates and phosphates.
“Wetlands are the least understood element of land use in Harare, but most of them have been lost because of drainage,” he says. “We have very little appreciation of their value, but basically they are a sink we can exploit, as well as a habitat that can be enriched.”
And he is doing just that at his place as he intends to integrate and adopt an ecosystems approach.
“This is essentially they are a man-made system that mimics naturally occurring wetlands, by building a series of shallow ponds and lining them with material found nearby,” he tells this publication, explaining they have reserved part of their space to constructing fish ponds up to the wetlands .
“These are then also filled with wetland plants, which are carefully chosen to suit the habitat involved,” he says. “Our design takes account of the site’s hydrology, landscape, soil and functional ecology as well as the types of effluent and the processes involved in capturing the pollutants.”
He further explains they have complied with all City Council building by-laws and requirements.
“The special foundation is world-class and we have incorporated all recommendations,” he says, adding they have sunk well over US$100 000 so far on the foundation and Durawall around the 6 000 sq-metre stand.
“The problem is people do not travel much or even research on the latest housing and construction developments in the world”.
“We do not do things in the dark. We are for progressive development and not remain stuck in the past as a country and moan tomorrow after being left behind!” he says.
The main cause of this apparent conflict is historical.
Harare is built on the headwaters of its water supplies. The result of this settlement blunder is that the capital city’s water quality is poor and very costly with the council spending over 10 different chemicals to purify.
“Wetlands act as natural filters and water cleaners and there are more positive and valuable benefits of wetlands – including bio-diversity,” says Stewart Mutizwa, Ward 9 councillor for the area.
“Most of the development plans were approved during the ‘mad’ times under the previous regime but we have to find ways to mitigate the impacts.”
Aaron Mupandawana, incoming chair of the Nyagui Sub-Catchment Council, that has its source in the Glen Lorne wetlands, concurs.
“Our aim is to create a win-win situation and minimize conflict as we strive to preserve the environment according to international best-practice,” he says. “People need balance and need not be emotional but practical.”
By Patrick Musira in Harare
