Environmentalists Warn Loss of Wetlands Puts Zim’s Water Security at Risk

As Zimbabwe joins the global community in marking World Wetlands Day, environmental groups and human rights advocates are warning that the country’s wetlands are under threat—despite their crucial role in sustaining communities facing increasing climate pressures. Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) Director Estella Toperesu described wetlands as far more than unused land, particularly in the country’s drought-prone areas. “In communities where rainfall is increasingly unpredictable, a healthy wetland keeps the local water table high.

It ensures that wells do not run dry, even during the harshest seasons. These ecosystems provide water for livestock and household gardens that sustain families,” Toperesu said. “For years, communities relied on destructive wetland cropping, which was unsustainable.We are transitioning to alternatives such as solar-powered nutrition gardens located away from sensitive wetland areas,” she said.

These gardens allow families to grow high-value crops such as tomatoes and leafy vegetables without harming wetlands, improving food security and household incomes. In Buhera, SAFIRE has worked with local authorities to restore the Chidziyamango and Romorehoto wetlands. The initiative has boosted groundwater recharge and natural water purification while enabling communities to diversify into fish farming, beekeeping, and horticulture.

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“People are now earning income from fish and honey. This stability does more than just fill stomachs. Fewer food-related stresses mean lower risks of gender-based violence,” Toperesu said.

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