Cabinet has approved the proposed National Wetlands Policy and guidelines that will give direction to wetlands management for incorporation into development planning by Government and other stakeholders who will include the private sector, development partners, traditional leaders and communities.
Addressing a post cabinet media briefing in Harare today, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the policy would assist in establishing a comprehensive wetlands management framework.
“The Policy will facilitate the establishment of an effective and efficient institutional and legal framework for integrated management, and enhance capacity building within relevant institutions involved in the management of wetlands,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that Government will designate all wetlands as areas that should not be utilised for settlement purposes and gazette all ecologically sensitive wetlands.
Furthermore, Government will undertake orderly relocation of people in order to pave way for the rehabilitation of wetlands and enforce the requirement for Environmental Management Agency certification for any developments in sensitive wetlands.
The Minister also said that there shall be efficient measures for waste management from the point of source, with tough penalties being imposed for offence of discharging waste into wetlands.
Government shall establish wetland education centres across the country while setting up functional local wetland management institutions, restoring the powers of Traditional leaders in wetland management and strengthening legislation to protect various habitats found on wetlands.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that Government will also intensify the development of climate change mitigation measures to safeguard wetlands, establish and develop recreation and eco-tourism facilities for sustainable wetland management and promote efficient techniques and technologies for crop and livestock production on wetlands where these activities are considered appropriate.
“Treasury will avail in tranches the resources required to kick-start the rehabilitation of 20 wetlands, 2 per province, before the onset of the 2021-2022 rainfall season,” Minister Mutsvangwa also highlighted.
Government earlier in June mentioned that the preceding National Wetlands Master Plan which paved way for the National Wetlands Policy had been completed.
