Matebeleland Pulse Reporter
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has called on citizens, local authorities, central government and the private sector to strengthen the protection, restoration and sustainable management of wetlands, warning that continued degradation poses serious risks to water security, biodiversity and constitutional rights.
In a statement issued today mark World Wetlands Day, ZLHR said wetlands were critical ecosystems whose protection was essential for both present and future generations.
“On World Wetlands Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights implores citizens, local authorities, central government and all stakeholders to promote the conservation, restoration, sustainable management and wise use of wetlands for the benefit of present and future generations,” said ZLHR.
World Wetlands Day is commemorated annually on February 2 and marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage”, which ZLHR said recognises wetlands as ecosystems that are deeply intertwined with human culture and wellbeing.
“The theme recognises wetlands as a cherished ecosystem, critical to human culture and wellbeing, and underscores the intrinsic ecological value and benefits they bring to present and future generations,” ZLHR said.
ZLHR noted that in Zimbabwe, wetlands have historically been protected through indigenous knowledge systems and customary practices passed down through generations.
“Many communities regarded wetlands as sacred spaces, governed by norms that restricted cultivation, construction and resource extraction,” ZLHR said. “Practices such as seasonal use, controlled grazing, protection of wetland vegetation and prohibitions against polluting water sources played a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and resilience.”
ZLHR said these traditions demonstrated that indigenous knowledge remained “a valuable and complementary tool” in modern wetland conservation efforts.
At a global level, the organisation highlighted the ecological and economic importance of wetlands, describing them as among the most productive ecosystems on earth.
“Wetlands store significant amounts of carbon that contribute to climate change mitigation, purify water and safeguard freshwater supplies, and buffer communities against droughts and floods,” ZLHR said, adding that wetlands were “intricately linked to culture and civilisation and are the foundation of resilient societies”.
While acknowledging the role of the Ramsar Convention in safeguarding wetlands and the livelihoods they support, ZLHR expressed concern over the continued loss of wetlands.
“Despite these protections, wetlands continue to disappear at an alarming rate globally and domestically, driven by land use change, infrastructure development, agriculture, climate change and pollution,” the organisation said.
ZLHR said that although Zimbabwe’s Constitution provides strong and justiciable environmental rights, enforcement gaps continued to undermine effective wetland protection.
“Notwithstanding strong environmental and procedural rights under the Constitution, gaps in enforcement and regulatory oversight continue to undermine the effective protection of wetlands in Zimbabwe,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that several wetlands across the country, including some of the seven designated Ramsar Sites, were facing significant threats.
“In particular, the Monavale Wetland in Harare remains under severe pressure, with potentially far-reaching consequences for its ecological integrity, water purification functions and the city’s water security,” ZLHR said.
ZLHR said it had, together with its partners, used strategic litigation to advance wetland protection and restoration, recording “notable successes”, but stressed that more needed to be done.
“The protection and restoration of wetlands are essential to the realisation of the right to water under section 77 of the Constitution and the right to an environment that is not harmful to one’s health under section 73,” noted the statement.
In its recommendations, ZLHR called on government, local authorities, the private sector and citizens to stop illegal developments on wetlands, suspend approvals for housing projects in protected areas, domesticate international environmental conventions into municipal law, and strengthen climate change adaptation measures.
