Unchecked Development Poses a Risk to Harare’s Wetlands

Harare – Once, the wetland in Borrowdale was a thriving ecosystem filled with lush grass and vibrant flowers.

Various bird species, such as red and yellow bishops, could often be seen, along with an array of butterflies.

“This place was home to everything from anthills to fig trees and colorful flowers. Locals would come here to enjoy the peaceful ambiance,” recounts Brian Foster Mawer, a long-term resident of Dandaro Retirement Village, which borders the wetland.

The 79-year-old has lived in the vicinity for over two decades and has seen the wetland diminish at an alarming rate.

Over time, much of the area has been excavated for maize farming, steadily eroding this vital natural flood buffer and water reservoir.

Currently, the future of the remaining wetland hangs in the balance.

Vifot Investments, a real estate developer, aims to erect concrete structures in the wetland’s core.

Heavy machinery is already delivering construction materials to this Harare neighborhood as preparations are underway for 130 housing units and 20 office buildings.

This project, still in its initial phases, reflects a troubling trend where authorities approve major construction efforts on wetlands despite substantial environmental concerns, according to Reuben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association.

This situation arises as Zimbabwe prepares to host the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in July.

This international event focuses on the protection of remaining wetlands worldwide, yet conservationists warn that Zimbabwe is losing its own at a disconcerting pace, often aided by questionable land deals and environmental oversight failures.

1. Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe

Roger Fairlie sits on a bench overlooking a wetland he helps to conserve alongside fellow residents in Harare.

As the founder of Greystone Nature Reserve, Fairlie has been a vocal advocate for the essential protection of wetlands against unregulated development.

“Harare city has been careless in land allocation, issuing permits recklessly,” comments Robert Mutyasira, chairperson of the Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association.

Nonetheless, the challenge is not confined to a single neighborhood or project.

In 2013, the Longcheng Plaza mall was established atop a significant wetland along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway.

A study by the Harare Wetlands Trust, employing field evaluations and satellite imagery, revealed that wetlands in Harare decreased by 50% between 2007 and 2019.

The investigation looked into 10 major headwater wetlands, including Borrowdale.

The organization attributes this reduction to agricultural activities, housing projects, and informal settlements.

Wetlands serve as natural barriers against rain.

With many wetlands lost, regions like Budiriro and Mabvuku in Harare face frequent flooding.

Borrowdale and Highland Wetlands

Harare, Zimbabwe, from 2011 to 2025

The fight to preserve wetlands transcends Zimbabwe’s borders. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is sinking due to years of wetland depletion.

The scenario has escalated to such an extent that the government is relocating the national capital.

In Brazil, massive developments are encroaching on the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world.

Moreover, luxury constructions in the Paraná Delta, Argentina, threaten this vital ecosystem.

Disturbingly, nearly 35% of the globe’s wetlands have disappeared since 1970.

In many cases, governments are attempting to address the aftermath, though often too late.

Within Zimbabwe, environmental advocates contend that the government is facilitating destruction that, if unaddressed, could worsen flooding and increase water scarcity.

On paper, the country has stringent environmental regulations.

Any development near or on a wetland requires consultation with the Environmental Management Agency, and construction should only proceed after an environmental impact assessment approved by the agency.

However, enforcement remains lax.

In the case of Vifot Investments, environmentalists from the Harare Wetlands Trust noted in a 2021 report that authorities sanctioned an environmental impact assessment that ignored serious inconsistencies.

They allege that Vifot submitted misleading information about the precise location of the project to evade regulations.

Despite the project site being within a wetland, the assessment unsuccessfully categorized it as part of a light industrial zone in Tynwald, which is a distinct area.

This issue has captured national attention. Multiple city officials have been arrested or charged related to the land deal, including Aaron Chigona, director of the Environmental Management Agency.

Chigona was arrested in January 2024 and spent over a year in custody for his suspected role in the controversial land transaction.

This March, the court released him without charges, and he continues to serve in his role at the agency.

Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe

The Borrowdale Vlei wetland in Harare.

A real estate investment firm plans to establish 130 cluster homes and 20 office blocks in the wetland, triggering concerns among environmentalists and residents about water accessibility and ecosystem degradation.

According to Amkela Sidange, education and publicity manager, the agency has deemed Vifot’s environmental impact assessment adequate.

She asserts that the project will have minimal effects on the wetland.

“[It] incorporates a nature park within the wetland area, which will ultimately enhance it rather than harm it. The cluster homes will only occupy 5 hectares of non-wetland land,” she adds.

When contacted by Global Press Journal, Vifot Managing Director Liangming Jin initially attempted to offer the reporter US$200 for “lunch,” which was declined.

What he later told Global Press Journal contradicted the statements from officials.

To begin with, Jin claimed that the company plans to develop residential units across 14 hectares of land, not the 5 hectares mentioned by Sidange. The balance will be used for office constructions.

“I should have all the details of the office plans in six months as my architects are still designing,” he noted.

Jin also mentioned strategies to mitigate environmental impact, such as incorporating water canals.

He stated that the city of Harare sold the land to them.

Mayor Jacob Mafume told Global Press Journal that he is not familiar with Vifot’s specific project but acknowledges that wetlands are illegally sold within the country.

Linda Mujuru, GPJ Zimbabwe

Liangming Jin, the managing director of Vifot Investments, at his office in Harare. His company’s plans to build housing and office blocks on a protected wetland have sparked criticism, due to misleading environmental assessments and the impact on Harare’s already strained water supply.

“Sometimes these issues don’t come to our attention,” reflects Mafume.

When matters are brought to light, he reassures that his office will strive to reverse or correct any issues arising from permitted developments.

According to Mutyasira from the Borrowdale Residents Association, the judicial system has failed to protect the nation’s wetlands.

“We haven’t encountered successes in court.” Once wetlands are designated as private property, addressing the issue becomes more complex, he adds. However, implementing stricter penalties could help.

“Even if wetlands are privately owned, that ownership should be rescinded,” he argues.

One possible solution could involve community engagement, suggests Roger Fairlie, founder of the Greystone Nature Reserve, a wetland he oversees with fellow residents.

“This challenge cannot be faced alone,” he asserts. The true strength lies in educating people about the critical significance of wetlands.

Signage from the Environmental Management Agency emphasizes that companies with approved projects should not interpret authorization as a free pass to harm the environment.

It is a promise to protect it. Noncompliance could lead to revocation of construction permits, she warns.

As the world prepares to gather in Harare for a discussion on wetland preservation, the ground beneath this city continues to dwindle.

Many regions in Harare suffer from unreliable water supply, while others receive contaminated water. Residents like Mawer rely on boreholes.

Yet, these boreholes are drying up, and a large-scale construction project could further deplete the already limited groundwater reserves.

*Linda Mujuru is a Global Press Journal Reporter-in-Residence based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

*This article was first published by Global Press Journal, which provides bold, investigative, and in-depth explanatory journalism on the world’s most pressing issues.