Wetlands Under Threat Despite Protections

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has issued an urgent call for stronger action to protect the nation’s wetlands, which are disappearing at an alarming rate due to illegal developments, weak regulatory enforcement, and urban pressures, despite constitutional protections and international commitments.

In a statement released on World Wetlands Day, ZLHR urged citizens, government authorities, the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders to prioritise the conservation, restoration, sustainable management, and wise use of wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations.

World Wetlands Day, observed annually on 2 February, commemorates the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971.

The 2026 theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” highlights the role of wetlands in sustaining human culture, well-being, and ecological resilience.

ZLHR noted that Zimbabwe’s indigenous and customary practices have historically treated wetlands as sacred spaces, restricting cultivation, construction, and resource extraction, while controlling grazing, protecting vegetation, and preventing pollution.

The organization emphasized that traditional knowledge remains a vital complement to modern conservation strategies.

“Wetlands are among the planet’s most productive ecosystems,” ZLHR said.

Globally, however, wetlands are disappearing due to land-use changes, agriculture, infrastructure development, pollution, and climate change.

Monavale Wetland, also known as Monavale Vlei in Harare, is facing severe pressure from illegal developments, land clearing, and urban expansion, threatening water security and ecological integrity. Despite fines and enforcement actions by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in response to recent grader operations in late 2025, housing and commercial developments continue to encroach on protected areas.

ZLHR highlighted the constitutional provisions that safeguard water (Section 77) and a non-harmful environment (Section 73), urging immediate action to prevent further degradation.

Other wetlands of concern include the country’s seven Ramsar Sites: Cleveland Dam, Lake Chivero, Victoria Falls National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Driefontein Grasslands, and Chinhoyi Caves.

The organisation recommended key measures to halt wetland loss:

• Stop illegal developments on wetlands and meet Zimbabwe’s Ramsar obligations.
• Integrate international wetland conventions into local laws, policies, and land-use planning.
• Protect and incorporate indigenous knowledge into wetland management, with active community leadership.
• Suspend and reverse approvals for housing and property projects on wetlands.
• Strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies to safeguard ecosystems and communities.

Zimbabwe has been a regional leader on wetland issues, hosting Ramsar COP15 in Victoria Falls in 2025, but ZLHR warned that without decisive enforcement and community involvement, continued wetland loss could exacerbate water shortages, biodiversity decline, and climate vulnerability across the country.