By Kudakwashe Pembere
HARARE City is looking for funds to revive the lost glory of Glen Norah Park along with the dam located inside the park.
This comes amidst investigations by EnviroZim revealing the deplorable state of Glen Norah Park.
The dam which, three years ago had water in it is now crossable on foot while the Park shows that it is lacking maintenance.
Aside from the grass, nearby residents are farming sweet potatoes and beans.
Admitting the depressing state of the Park earlier today, Harare City spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme’s alibi was that council did not have enough financial resources to maintain it.
“Glen Norah park is owned by the City of Harare. It is a City of Harare baby, but the city has been looking for partners after realising that we do not have enough resources to manage all the parks in the City.”
“ The partnership that we want is one that benefits the people of Glen Norah and Highfields where they can have an area to relax, play and get pictures taken, use as a wedding venue, and also the need to reclaim the dam within the park.
“We are therefore still looking for partners to resuscitate the park and drying dam,” he told this publication.
Mr Chideme also said they have by-laws in place to regulate and protect wetlands hence council is highly alert on the need to protect such areas as Glen Norah park within which the wetland is located.
“The city is for the preservation of wetlands because we realise their importance in the urban ecosystem. Wetlands act as water purifiers.”
“Wetlands act as tourist attractions because when that park was functional there used to be game and a lot of bird-life in that area,” he added.
“So wetlands are very important for us because they aid the urban ecosystem.”
“They make the urban environment sustainable. We are, as much as possible working to protect the remaining wetlands and where possible resuscitate wetlands that can be resuscitated.”
With locals arguing that they started farming after realising the neglect leading to the drying up of the dam, the City, according to Mr Chideme finds it savage to displace these new farmers.
“Because of the need to have food sustenance in the City, sometimes when people have already planted it becomes inhumane to remove such crops.”
“But our aim is that in the future, residents will not grow anything on that wetland and park. Once the park is resuscitated then it means there won’t be such activity in that park,” he said.
