Africa Sun (Pvt) (Ltd) intends to buy a portion of the Harare Gardens which measures about 2.205 hectares for the expansion of Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has already issued a notice seeking residents’ input over the matter.
The notice was given in terms of Section 49 (4) of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 29:12)
CWA has blamed authorities for selling water sources in the guise of development.
“The reason for protection of Harare Gardens should be that it is a water source, a wetland. The stream that flows beneath the City of Harare has part of its water supplied by the Harare Gardens wetland. The real issue here is about water provision,” said CWA in a statement.
Wetlands are the major primary sources of water for Harare but have of late been under serious threat due to residential and industrial expansion projects often implemented without considering the need to preserve water sources.
Urban farming has also been among the threats to wetlands’ survival.
The Harare Wetlands Trust is implementing a project aimed at mobilizing community involvement in wetlands preservation due to the incessant threats to the water sources.
On the Harare Gardens issue, CWA said, “As if the current challenges on water provision are not enough, City of Harare “sell” water sources under the guise of what they term development. This is also happening on Borrowdale Vlei where Augur Investments and Pokugara are being given land as barter deal for construction of Airport Road (a tender which the awarded company failed to honour).
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So the issue is about water provisioning which does not end on Harare Gardens but should spread to other areas as a prerequisite for sustainable access to water by residents. The basis for protecting Harare Gardens should not be blind to the fact that the plan to conserve it was mainly and solely about the need to protect wetlands as water sources and as areas performing ecosystems services,” said CWA.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has raised concern that continued wetlands destruction is creating water scarcity in Harare.
CWA added that continued tampering with wetlands was increasing the risk of flooding in Harare.
Post published in: Featured