Story by Theophilus Chuma
Rural communities are leveraging on wetlands to power their productivity and sustain livelihoods.
This comes as a result of the effective implementation of the Zimbabwe National Wetlands Policy and Wetlands Management Guidelines.
The rehabilitation of wetlands is assisting to build resilience against climate change in rural communities, providing an essential source of livelihood for thousands of families.
Small holder farming ventures such as the Kasibo garden in Hwange, is one among many examples where communities are benefitting from the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.
Newton Murimbika from the Makonde area, looks at the protection of wetlands as an essential component to the survival of humanity.
“Wetlands are good for us, they provide essential support to the survival of our crops and livestock,” Murimbika said.
This is a sentiment shared by many within the community.
Makonde Ward 4 Councillor Anyway Murisa said, “Wetlands are very important for us because they will even protect our biodiversity. That way they play a very crucial role even in the rainfall cycle.”
Environmental protection and resilience is one of the priority areas under the Second Republic, with government implementing the Zimbabwe National Wetlands Policy and Wetlands Management Guidelines of 2022.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA)’s Education and Publicity Manager Ms Amkela Sidange said, ” We are looking at wetlands as a vital component of the ecosystem. We are saying wetlands become part of the solution to the current challenges of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.”
“The World Wetlands Day is a very important day. This gives us an opportunity to raise awareness on the protection of wetlands. We need to look at protecting our wetlands so that we can have access to water. Otherwise we will be helping climate change by destroying them,” Monavale Vlei’s Manager Ms Dorothy Wakeling said.
The call to action by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for enhanced protection of wetlands strengthens the country’s efforts in protecting its natural resources.
To date, over 300 000 hectares of wetlands have been rehabilitated, according to EMA.
The restoration of wetlands has been a critical resilience tool for communities, important for poverty reduction and livelihood security in the face of climate change.
