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Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
There has been an uproar over a wetland invasion in Greystone Park, Harare, with Government now seized with the matter.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe confirmed the invasion.
“It has come to my attention that some citizens are concerned about developments in Greystone Park, Harare wherein residential stands are being developed.
“The Ministry is seized with the matter. Concerned citizens and stakeholders will be updated in due course,” he said.
Harare Wetlands Trust programmes manager Selestino Chari said the land is a private property that has been donated for the sake of preservation of the wetland.
Mr Chari said the donation had conditions, but someone has decided that they can go outside the conditions of the donation to regularise the developments on the wetland.
“Surely, there’s no two ways about it. It is issue of greediness and, disregard on the protection of the wetlands.
“There is really need for central Government and the local authority on State land to come up with a policy and by-laws to protect these wetlands,” he said.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said his understanding on initial verification is that this is State land and the allocation and development there too has nothing to do with council.
“However, if it turns out to be council land, our position on issues of wetlands are very clear. There should be no developments on wetland at all as we need to protect them.
“We will inquire as to what is the position of EMA and the Minister of Environment as they are the primary custodian of wetlands,” he said.
Ward 18 councillor Rufaro Matsika said there is a gross cancer that continues to spread of inherited irresponsible infractions on the environment that have become a worrisome development in her ward.
“We have been witnessing an unprecedented attack on natural resources such as wetlands for the past decade and still its continuing and the perpetrators are relentlessly determined to do it at all costs.
“Land is being allocated everywhere regardless of its ecological sensitivity. There is a wanton invasion of these wetlands, and residents are justified in raising indiscriminate alarm whenever they witness sinister activities,” she said.
Cllr Matsika said these developments are in direct contravention of environmental laws, and the excessive greed driving this lawlessness is disturbing, especially when it is going unwatched.
Harare City Council director of urban planning, Mr Samuel Nyabezi, said the city has no hand in the invasion.
“The City never sold the land in question and does not have anything to do with developments happening, this matter is being handled by our parent Ministry,” he said.
Online Reporter