Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
COMBINED Harare Residents Association (CHRA) chairperson Mr David Pasipanodya said recent flash floods in Harare are not merely a result of heavy rainfall but a direct consequence of systemic spatial planning failures, corruption, misplaced priorities and persistent neglect and lack of rehabilitation of drainage infrastructure by the city council.
In a statement, Mr Pasipanodya said over the years, council has been allocating and parcelling out housing stands on wetlands, open spaces and waterways, a situation that has exposed residents to natural disasters, including flooding.
“Poor revenue inflows saw land sales becoming a lucrative source of revenue to the local authority to pay for salaries for its workers, a practice which was then stopped by the Ministry of Local Government through a directive, but the damage was collateral,” read the statement.
“The situation has been further exacerbated by land invasions spearheaded by land barons and the emergence of informal settlements.”
He said that spatial planning in Harare has been motivated by economic gain while neglecting the natural environment, which severely undermines Zimbabwe’s progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 11 that aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable by 2030.
Mr Pasipanodya said that while rural to urban migration has put pressure on land for housing and other social services for the city, land allocation must be done in a more organised and sustainable manner.
“The City of Harare cannot continue to disregard the gazetted Ecologically Sensitive Areas map in its spatial planning and expect normalcy,” he said.
“We reiterate that construction on wetlands is self-destructive and counterproductive, exacerbates flooding, poses health risks and threatens long-term water and food security for the city.
“We recommend urgent rehabilitation and upgrading of the drainage system, integration of the city’s environmental division into spatial planning decision-making and finalisation of the master plan and adherence to environmental laws in spatial planning.”
