HARARE – The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has rejected a housing development proposal in Greystone Park, Borrowdale, citing ecological concerns due to the project’s location on a wetland.
The developer had begun construction without securing the required environmental licenses, prompting EMA to issue an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) and a fine to halt operations. Following the submission of the project prospectus, EMA determined that the development posed irreversible ecological risks and could significantly affect the socio-economic landscape.
Amkela Sidange, EMA’s Environmental Education and Publicity Manager, emphasized the importance of wetlands as critical ecosystems. “Development on wetlands violates existing legal provisions and undermines conservation principles,” Sidange said. EMA’s inspections revealed extensive ecological damage at the site, including the disturbance of black clay soils and other wetland indicators.
Zimbabwe has mapped its wetlands under the National Wetlands Masterplan (2021), identifying over 258,000 hectares as Ecologically Sensitive Areas. EMA continues to advocate for adherence to these guidelines, reminding planners and developers to align projects with mapped wetland distributions.
The agency warned that violating wetland management laws could result in fines up to level 14, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The announcement comes as Zimbabwe prepares to host the 15th Conference of Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in Victoria Falls from 23-31 July 2025, under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.”
Wetlands play a vital role in sustaining ecosystems, and EMA urged collective action to preserve these areas for future generations.