Bulawayo to relocate Cowdray Park families from wetlands

The Bulawayo City Council has announced plans to relocate residents of Ward 6 in Cowdray Park who are living on wetlands, as authorities move to address years of flooding, safety concerns and allegations of irregular land allocations.

The decision follows long-standing accusations that land barons and unscrupulous real estate agents sold residential stands on protected wetlands, leaving unsuspecting homebuyers to build on land considered unsuitable for human settlement.

Residents have linked the origins of the problem to the post-Operation Murambatsvina period, arguing that the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle housing programme created loopholes that were later exploited by illegal land dealers.

Ward 15 councillor Ashton Mhlanga said some flooding attributed to wetlands may instead be a result of inadequate infrastructure in areas allocated under government housing programmes.

"I kind of feel like sometimes residents take it the wrong way because that area allocated to the residents does not have proper infrastructure," Mhlanga said.

"Hence the reason why I am saying they might think that some areas are wetlands when it's only the lack of infrastructure that is causing flooding in some houses."

He said the council has identified alternative land for affected families and plans to allocate about 18 residential stands as part of the relocation programme.

According to Mhlanga, officials are assessing affected properties to determine compensation based on the stage of construction before households are moved.

"The process is not going to take them a month till they are done and Ward 6 residents are moved to a safer location," he said.

Residents' representatives, however, say the local authority has not adequately engaged the public on the relocation exercise.

Steven Nkomo, chairperson of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, called on the council to improve transparency and accelerate the relocation process.

"I do not remember the council being open with us when it comes to a lot of projects," Nkomo said.

He also raised concerns about ongoing construction near Cowdray Park High School, urging the local authority to move affected residents without delay.

"The local authority has enough land and they should move those people from wetlands because there is a lot of open land around Cowdray Park," he said.

Environmental experts have repeatedly warned against developments on wetlands, saying such areas play a critical role in flood management and biodiversity conservation. Building on wetlands, they say, not only exposes residents to flooding and structural damage but also degrades fragile ecosystems.

Calls have also intensified for comprehensive environmental impact assessments before residential stands are allocated.

Concerns over wetland settlements in Bulawayo resurfaced earlier this year after residents accused the council of prioritising revenue generation over environmental protection and public safety.

At the time, Bulawayo mayor David Coltart said council policy prohibits development on wetlands, although he indicated he was unaware of the specific cases raised by residents.

The issue has persisted for several years. In 2021, nearly 500 houses across Bulawayo were identified for possible relocation after being found to have been built on wetlands.

Cowdray Park accounted for the largest share, with 429 affected houses, while other affected suburbs included Luveve Five, Newton West, Sauerstown and Nkulumane.