At a recent media briefing, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter Mzembi, told journalists that wetlands would not bring development to Zimbabwe.
He was referring to the ongoing debate around the construction by a Chinese company of a hotel in a wetland next to the National Sports Stadium in Harare. Environmentalists are opposed to the building of the hotel, arguing that the wetland should be preserved to improve underground water flows.
The area where the Chinese have been awarded a tender to build the hotel is part of the Conservation Society of Monavale (Cosmo) Project and is a seasonally partially flooded wetland with pristine ecosystems.
“This area is known worldwide in ornithological circles as an important breeding ground for five of the rarest Southern African Bird species, in particular the secretive migrant rails and crakes which find the vlei’s inundated fine summer grasses an ideal nesting habitat,” said Toga Fakarayi of Birdlife Zimbabwe.
Joseph Tasosa, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe National Environment Trust, said building on the wetland would disturb the ecosystem – killing organisms, including locusts and lizards.
“It’s a contentious issue for other people to worry about locusts and lizards. Since when did locusts and lizards take precedence over a country’s development,” said Mzembi, adding that China and Zimbabwe had signed a Preferred Destination Access Agreement that would see the Chinese promoting tourist visits to this country.
Post published in: Environment
Does Walter Mzembi not realize that if he agrees to destroy the environment like the wetlands, in order to build hotels to accommodate tourists, that these tourists will not come, if there are no animals and birds to look at. What kind of ludicrous thinking is this? Zimbabwe wake up, you are already suffering from climate change and drought, wetlands are important to you, how much worse will it become if you destroy it??? Emma.