Wetlands are not wastelands: Zim needs to act now

ZIMBABWE recently hosted the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands — a momentous event in global conservation efforts The spotlight was on us And yet, while the world met to discuss how to protect these vital ecosystems, we continue to destroy our own wetlands Globally, we’ve already lost over 400 million hectares — 22% of total wetlands — since 1970

A quarter of those that remain are in a degraded state The Global Wetland Outlook 2025, published by the Ramsar Convention, warns that without urgent intervention, we could lose an additional 20% by 2050, putting over US$39 trillion in ecosystem benefits at risk These are not just abstract statistics — they represent a growing threat to our water sources, food security, biodiversity and climate resilience From Belvedere’s Long Cheng Plaza to the encroachment in Monavale — a designated Ramsar site — we are witnessing the slow death of our wetlands, often at the hands of politically-connected developers and complicit officials

Wetlands, once dismissed as idle land, are being parcelled out for residential and commercial development with reckless abandon Meanwhile, critical ecosystems that regulate floods, filter water and support biodiversity are being reduced to rubble They are life-sustaining systems that support agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and water supply Though they cover just 6% of the Earth’s surface, they generate more than 7,5% of global GDP in ecosystem services

Their destruction is not only an environmental crime —it’s economic sabotage and an attack on public health Environmental laws already exist to protect wetlands What’s lacking is enforcement Environmental impact assessments must be taken seriously and illegal developments — no matter how politically protected — must be stopped and reversed

Some of the worst offenders are within the bureaucracy itself This must end The government must investigate and prosecute officials who facilitate illegal wetland development Corruption is eating away not just at our wetlands but at the public’s trust

We need a coordinated, well-funded national plan for wetland restoration and protection This means mapping all wetlands, identifying those at risk and prioritising their rehabilitation Let us work with international conservation partners to do this right.

Source: NewsDay Zimbabwe