The construction sector, which is one of the most important contributors to overall
socio-economic development, is also responsible for pollution and environmental degradation. For example, sand and gravel, for the production of concrete and clay, is extracted at a rate which puts the land at risk of soil erosion.
Promoting sustainable construction is difficult because of the industry's size and
fragmentation. To date the industry contributes 13 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and employs over a million. The rate of construction is also set to increase as the government seeks to clear the current house backlog. This emphasis on growth represents an opportunity to shift development towards environmental efficiency in delivering more sustainable homes and construction.
Nelson Marongwe of ZERO, said the Fast Track resettlement programme exacerbated the problem of land degradation as new settlers found ways of sustaining themselves. Land occupations in the peri-urban areas were driven by the desire of urban residents to access land for residential purposes. This occupation of land has had a negative impact on the environment in areas such as Prince Edward Dam where settlements have increased siltation and pollution of the water.
According to Mutuso Dhliwayo of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, these conflicts arose largely from the lack of coordinated national land use policies.
Post published in: Environment