EMA warns seed, fertiliser producers

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is working on the gazetting of all ecologically sensitive areas in Harare and Chitungwiza to ring-fence wetlands as protected areas.

The agency has warned seed and fertiliser companies against setting up demonstration plots on wetlands and stream banks, as doing so is a punishable offence.

During the last rainy season, six seed and fertiliser companies were reprimanded by the agency for setting up demonstration plots on wetlands.

EMA urged the public not to buy stands in areas they suspected to be wetlands or when they were not sure of extent of their ecologically sensitivity, as doing so will result in delays in development or even loss of investment when development is rejected on site suitability.

Land owners could even face prosecution for developments in ecologically sensitive areas without authority from the agency.

Most remaining wetlands in Harare are, in any case, zoned as recreational land.

A set percentage of all land being developed in a new suburb, whether on public or private land, has to be zoned for recreation and developers in the past tended to allocate vleis or, in the case of Harare Gardens right at the beginning of urban development, land that held several springs.

The wetlands can still then be used, which is why all, but one city golf course are on wetlands, many schools have part of their playing fields on wetlands, and many present and planned parks are on wetlands.

EMA environmental education and publicity manager, Mrs Amkela Sidange said they had this year rejected over 15 wetland projects on the grounds that the sites were unsuitable to protect wetlands.

Most of the rejected projects were in Harare and included Blacks Housing Trust in Greencroft, Charly Car Wash in The Grange, Craftlight Truck Inn in Msasa, Subdivision of Subdivision C of Greengrove, subdivision of remainder of municipal plot in Belvedere, subdivision of remainder of Strathaven, Takaitanga Housing Cooperative in Budiriro, Totonga in Budiriro, Motherland Housing in Budiriro, Vee Housing in Budiriro and Vivo Energy Churchill service station in Alexandra Park.

“The agency has also issued several tickets and Environmental Protection Orders, including opening court cases, to local authorities and individuals to prohibit wetland degradation, said Mrs Sidange.

Allocation of stands in wetlands or putting up structures in wetlands without authority from the agency is an offence, and any authority or individual found doing so is liable to prosecution.”

EMA is mandated through the Environmental Management Act to prosecute anyone found implementing an activity likely to cause degradation of a wetland without authority from the agency.

“EMA is currently working on gazetting of all ecologically sensitive areas in line with Section 113 of Environmental Management Act, for the city of Harare and municipality of Chitungwiza, to ring fence wetlands as protected areas; and this will come with ecologically sensitive areas maps for the two local authorities as well, said Mes Sidange.

“The agency is currently working on formalising wetland management guidelines which will give a standard guide to the management of wetlands in Zimbabwe; and both processes are now at stakeholder consultation stage to conform to Section 136 of the same act, on rules of natural justice, which advocates for public consultation and inclusion in decision making on matters of the management of the environment. On the same line, a wetland management policy is at draft stage, looking forward to its gazetting by 2021.

“These three instruments when finalised would complement each other in ensuring that there is wise use of wetlands. EMA does not allocate land, but only ensures that any proposed development is ecologically sound, socially acceptable and environmental safe.

Local authorities are encouraged to remain gate keepers to these natural spheres by gazetting local by-laws to ensure their protection, and to be reminded that sustainable management of these natural assets lie with the gate keepers.”

Wetlands are a source of water and act as a recharge system for water bodies. Their degradation results in water scarcity, while recharge into open water sources is affected.

Wetlands are habitats for both flora and fauna and act as flood retention chambers, reducing water during the rainfall.

Thus degradation results in flooding. Wetlands also act as water purifiers, hence their degradation results in poor water quality, resulting in the need for use of many chemicals in water purification, thereby increasing the cost of water to consumers.-Herald.cl.zw