By Talkmore F Mapfumo
HARARE – Energy Mutodi has backed down from attempts to develop a residential stand on the protected Monavale Vlei after residents, environmental authorities and government officials opposed the move.
Mutodi reportedly brought graders onto the Ramsar site to begin clearing land earmarked for a residential stand. However, residents monitoring the wetland raised the alarm, prompting intervention from authorities and the suspension of the land-clearing exercise.
The development attempt came despite previous government warnings that Monavale Vlei, a protected wetland of international importance, should not be converted into residential stands.
Monavale has been at the centre of controversy amid reports that the City of Harare approved a layout containing 26 residential stands intended for Members of Parliament. While Parliament is understood to have an arrangement with the city regarding residential land for legislators, government officials have maintained that wetlands, particularly Monavale Vlei, are excluded from any such arrangement.
Speaking to the media, Mutodi confirmed that he had stepped back from the project following engagements with the relevant authorities.
“I have reached a consensus with the relevant authorities and will abide by their position,” Mutodi said. He added that he is now waiting for government to identify and allocate an alternative piece of land for Members of Parliament rather than pursuing development on the Ramsar site.
The issue had previously attracted the attention of Parliament leadership, where there was reportedly agreement that Monavale Wetland should not be targeted for residential development despite efforts to provide housing stands for legislators.
Among government officials who have consistently opposed wetland invasions is Tafadzwa Muguti, Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet, who has repeatedly called for the protection of Harare’s wetlands.
Residents welcomed Mutodi’s decision to withdraw from the site, describing it as a victory for environmental conservation and community activism. They have nevertheless vowed to remain vigilant amid concerns that Monavale Vlei continues to face pressure from land seekers and developers.
The latest developments are likely to renew debate over urban land allocation and the need to balance housing demands with the protection of environmentally sensitive areas. Monavale Vlei remains one of Harare’s most significant wetlands and is protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
