Zimbabwe gazettes dozens of wetlands as protected areas

The Zimbabwean government has officially gazetted dozens of wetlands across the country as protected ecologically sensitive areas, a move that immediately restricts development unless strict environmental conditions are met.

Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu announced the declaration in a recent Government Gazette, citing the Environmental Management Act. The legal notice prohibits construction, land clearing, or any activity that alters the wetlands without formal approval following a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

"It is hereby notified that the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has, in terms of Sections 113(1) and 140 of the Environmental Management Act, declared the mapped wetlands in the attached schedule as protected ecologically sensitive areas," the notice reads. Detailed coordinates for each wetland will be available for public inspection at the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) offices in Bluffhill, Harare.

Under the new legal framework, local authorities are barred from allocating, selling, or approving residential or commercial developments on these wetlands without EMA's direct involvement. The declaration also empowers authorities to remove illegal structures and prosecute those responsible for unauthorized development.

The move aims to preserve wetlands as vital water reserves, flood-control systems, and habitats for biodiversity. It is especially significant for urban areas such as Harare, where wetlands feeding Lake Chivero — the city's main water source — have been heavily encroached upon, contributing to chronic water supply challenges.

By requiring developers to conduct full EIAs and prove that proposed activities will not harm the wetlands, the government has created a stronger legal mechanism to protect these critical ecosystems and prevent irreversible environmental damage.