Trymore Tagwirei

Government has officially gazetted dozens of wetlands across the country as protected, ecologically sensitive areas, a move that immediately prohibits any form of development on these sites unless strict environmental conditions are met.

The declaration was published in a recent Government Gazette by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, in terms of Sections 113(1) and 140 of the Environmental Management Act.

“It is hereby notified that the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has, in terms of Sections 113(1) and 140 of the Environmental Management Act (‘the Act’), declared the mapped wetlands in the attached schedule as protected ecologically sensitive areas,” reads part of the notice.

With immediate effect, construction, land clearing or any activity that alters the natural state of wetlands is prohibited unless developers first obtain approval through a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The EIA process must comply with Section 97 of the Act and Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007.

The minister said detailed coordinates of each gazetted wetland will be available for public inspection at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) offices in Bluffhill, Harare.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no public land falling within or forming part of a wetland shall be developed without consultation and formal approval of the Environmental Management Agency,” the notice further states.

The gazetting strengthens the legal framework for wetland protection, effectively barring all forms of development unless it can be demonstrated that proposed activities will not cause environmental harm.

Local authorities are now prohibited from allocating, selling or approving residential stands or any other developments on wetlands without the direct involvement and approval of EMA.

The declaration also empowers authorities to demolish illegal structures built on wetlands, with offenders facing prosecution in terms of the law.

Wetlands play a critical role as natural water reservoirs, flood-control systems and habitats for biodiversity.

In urban centres such as Harare, extensive development on wetlands that feed Lake Chivero—the capital’s main water source—has been linked to worsening water shortages.

By gazetting these wetlands as protected areas, Government has given EMA clear legal authority to halt developments before irreversible environmental damage occurs.