Online Reporter
Takunda Gambiza
Herald Reporter
GOVERNMENT has ordered an immediate halt to all construction activities at Monavale wetland in Harare after it emerged that 26 Members of Parliament were irregularly allocated residential stands on a protected Ramsar site.
Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, said the development violated Cabinet policy on wetland protection.
Authorities say investigations are now underway, with potential disciplinary action looming for those involved, as Government moves to reinforce its commitment to environmental preservation.
Eng Muguti said wetlands were gazetted by Cabinet and were strictly protected areas where no construction was permitted.
“When an area is gazetted by the Republic of Zimbabwe Government, it simply means that it’s a no-go area,” he said.
He revealed that the Monavale site had been illegally earmarked for low-density stands without approval.
“This was not cleared by Parliament, it was not cleared by Government, it was deliberately done by a group of 26 MPs working with the City of Harare,” said Eng Muguti.
Government has since directed the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to stop all activities at the site.
“EMA has been given instruction… to stop all the development… this is not what we sanctioned,” he said.
Eng Muguti warned that those responsible would be held accountable.
“Heads will roll, because quite clearly someone approved this without even the Speaker of Parliament knowing,” he said.
He added that the allocation of residential stands to MPs is an ongoing process, but must follow proper procedures.
“We do not want Members of Parliament to jump the queue or to take matters into their own hands,” he said.
Eng Muguti also raised concern over Zimbabwe’s global environmental commitments, noting the country currently chairs the Ramsar Convention.
“What are we going to tell the world?” he questioned, warning that the development undermines the country’s credibility.
Highlighting the ecological importance of wetlands, he said they play a critical role in water systems.
“These wetlands all feed into our dams, if we leave the ground as it is right now, we will not even recognise how it has repaired itself,” he said.
Monavale Conservation Officer Mr Jimmy Moropa emphasised the environmental value of the area.
“These wetlands are actually valuable, they are the very sources of this valuable resource, which is water,” he said.
Residents also expressed concern over the impact of the development on surrounding communities.
Kuwadzana resident Mr Tafadzwa Gwini said the destruction of wetlands has already contributed to water shortages and flooding.
“If anything happens to this area, we are gone we have nothing else to depend on,” he said.
He added that communities downstream are directly affected by activities at Monavale.
“Whatever happens here is going to affect us,” said Mr Gwini.
Government has since launched an investigation into the role of local authorities and other officials in approving the project.
“We have initiated an investigation into the ministries involved and even into EMA,” said Eng Muguti.
