Government halts MPs' housing project on wetland

The government has halted plans by a group of Members of Parliament to develop residential stands on Harare's ecologically sensitive Monavale Wetland following intervention by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe.

The decision brings to an end a growing dispute between lawmakers seeking housing allocations and environmental activists who opposed any development on the protected wetland.

The controversy intensified last Saturday when environmental campaigners physically blocked earth-moving equipment from entering the site, preventing land clearance operations from proceeding.

Leading the group of MPs, Bikita West legislator Energy Mutodi confirmed on Tuesday that the proposed development had been abandoned following consultations with government authorities.

"I had a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament and also with the Minister of Local Government and we were advised to stop any developments on that site," Mutodi said.

"The current status is that there is not going to be any development for Member of Parliament stands at that site. Everything has been stopped. I'm sure there is going to be alternative land that is going to be allocated to these MPs."

Mutodi said the lawmakers had accepted the government's position after being briefed on the environmental implications of developing the area.

"We have been given the facts, we are now well aware that this land is a no-go area," he said.

"The equipment has been removed from the site – there is not going to be any development of any nature because of the issues that have been raised by the environmental agencies and so on."

The Monavale Wetland is regarded as one of Harare's most important ecological assets. Environmental experts say it plays a critical role in water conservation by storing water throughout the dry season and gradually releasing it into Lake Chivero through the Marimba River system.

Lake Chivero is Harare's principal water source, making the preservation of the wetland vital for the city's water security. The wetland also helps mitigate flooding in downstream suburbs, including Mufakose and Budiriro, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

Environmental groups had strongly opposed the proposed housing project, warning that any large-scale construction could permanently damage the wetland's ecosystem and compromise its ability to perform its environmental functions.

Lawyer Doug Coltart, who represented the environmental activists, welcomed the government's decision to halt the project.

He described the outcome as a "massive victory for the people", saying it demonstrated the importance of protecting environmentally sensitive areas from development.

The government's intervention is likely to be viewed as a significant win for environmental conservation efforts amid growing concerns over encroachment onto wetlands across Harare, where rapid urban expansion has increasingly come into conflict with ecological preservation.