Suburban
THE Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) recently held a climate and water policy dialogue forum to discuss climate and water policies and come up with recommendations in view of climate change.
The dialogue forum came at a time when the City of Harare is experiencing serious water quantity and quality problems. There is also serious pollution downstream Lake Chivero – Harare’s main water source.
The water quantity and quality problems in the city have been caused by lack of compliance to and implementation of water and climate policies (laws and judicial decisions) that are aimed at improving access to water in Harare.
Speaking at the forum, CHRA acting director Mr Reuben Akili attributed the challenges affecting compliance to the laws and judicial decisions in improving access to water in Harare, to political, economic, social, technological and environmental factors.
“There has been rapid exploitation of wetland ecosystems in the city due to the weakening of enforcement of laws that protect catchment and wetland areas from corruption activities, the increase in population in the city, the growth of the city through housing developments as Harare sits on a wetland catchment area.
“The increase in the demand for water outstripping and increased poverty which has promoted unregulated agricultural activities. And this has affected climate change,” said the Mr Akili while making a presentation on the accountability for water research findings at the meeting.
The chairperson of the Environment Management Committee at the City of Harare, Councilor Blessing Duma warned residents about fake offer letters for stands which are in circulation.
Cllr Duma undertook to take action against residents with houses built on wetlands in response to climate change, while making a presentation on water and environment policies in response to climate variability patterns.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands, which seeks to protect and preserve wetlands. The country has local laws, including the Environmental Management Act 20:27, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) gazetted wetlands map and the Environmental Assessment and Ecosystem Protection Regulations of 2007, which also provide for the protection of wetlands.
CHRA called for the enforcement of the laws and the use of the gazetted EMA wetlands map in guiding spatial planning in the City of Harare so that wetlands are protected. – Suburban Reporter/CHRA
