The hum of a bulldozer is rarely the sound of progress when it echoes across the delicate grasses of Monavale Vlei, one of the few remaining lungs of Harare.
To the casual observer, the Vlei might look like an empty field, but under international law, it is a Ramsar Site of International Importance, a designation that places it in the same ecological league as the world’s most vital ecosystems.
For Harare residents, its value is even more practical: the Vlei acts as a natural sponge, absorbing torrential rains to prevent flooding and slowly filtering water back into the city’s parched aquifers. Without it, the boreholes that sustain local suburbs would eventually run dry.
Despite these protections, the Vlei recently became the frontline of a high-stakes battle between conservation and political patronage.
In May 2026, graders arrived on the site to clear land for a residential development intended for 26 Members of Parliament.
This move ignored the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), which strictly prohibits the disturbance of wetlands without a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment.
The irony was not lost on the public: the very lawmakers responsible for upholding the country’s statutes were allegedly benefiting from their breach. This follows a troubling pattern in the capital, where politically connected developers have previously targeted sensitive areas like the Mbudzi Roundabout and the Cleveland Dam catchment.
The intrusion did not go unchallenged. Led by the Conservation Society of Monavale (COSMO) and local resident groups, a swift public outcry forced the government’s hand. Protesters and environmental lawyers argued that the clearing of the Vlei was not just an eyesore but a direct threat to the city’s water security.
Environment Minister Evelyn Ndlovu intervened, issuing a formal directive to halt all construction and declaring the area a no-go zone for developers. The Ministry’s action has been hailed as a rare victory for the rule of law over political expediency, though skepticism remains.
While the graders have retreated, the history of land use in Harare suggests that vigilance is the only permanent solution. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has previously issued fines to developers like TripTrans for similar encroachments, yet the pressure to convert “empty” green space into real estate persists.
For now, the Vlei remains a sanctuary for rare biodiversity and a critical source of groundwater recharge.-newsday
India-Africa Summit marks new era of cooperation, says envoy
India’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar says the ongoing India-Africa Forum Summit IV in New Delhi represents a defining moment in deepening diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between India and the African continent.
Speaking during a reception hosted at Zimbabwe House on Tuesday evening, Kumar described the summit as a strategic platform reinforcing centuries-old ties rooted in trade, solidarity and shared development goals.
“These ties date back millennia through trade across the Indian Ocean, cultural exchanges and enduring people-to-people contacts,” Kumar said.
“The relationship was further shaped and strengthened in the 20th century through our shared struggle against colonialism and apartheid.”
Kumar said India-Africa relations had evolved into a broad-based partnership covering infrastructure, trade, education, healthcare, technology transfer and political cooperation, guided by principles of mutual respect and demand-driven development.
He said India continued to champion Africa’s inclusion in global governance systems, citing New Delhi’s role during its G20 presidency in securing permanent membership for the African Union in the G20.
India also backed the inclusion of Egypt and Ethiopia into BRICS during the 2023 Johannesburg summit and supports Africa’s representation in a reformed United Nations Security Council under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.
Trade between India and Africa has reached nearly US$100 billion, while Indian investments on the continent are estimated at US$80 billion between 1996 and 2025, spanning energy, mining, agriculture, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors.
Kumar said Africa remained one of the largest beneficiaries of India’s overseas development assistance, with more than 190 Lines of Credit worth over US$10 billion financing projects in electricity generation, transport, water supply, rural electrification and digital connectivity across 41 African countries.
He also highlighted expanding cooperation in agriculture, education, healthcare, defence, maritime security, renewable energy and digital innovation.
India has provided more than 70,000 scholarships and professional training opportunities to Africans since 2015 under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, while Indian pharmaceutical firms now supply nearly half of Africa’s generic medicines.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, India supplied medical assistance and more than 50 million vaccine doses to African countries.
Kumar said Zimbabwe continued to enjoy strong relations with India anchored on trade, education, infrastructure cooperation and longstanding people-to-people ties supported by a vibrant Indian diaspora community.-newsday
