EMA Blocks Greystone Park Housing Project Over Wetland Concerns
Harare, Zimbabwe — The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has denied approval for a proposed housing development in Greystone Park, Borrowdale, citing its location within a designated wetland. The project was initiated without the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certification, a clear violation of Zimbabwe’s environmental regulations.
The site, characterized by black clay soils and other indicators of wetland ecology, is part of the country’s fragile ecosystems. EMA intervened promptly, issuing an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) and halting further construction. Despite the developer’s subsequent submission of a project prospectus, EMA rejected the proposal due to potential irreversible ecological damage.
Wetlands are essential to biodiversity, water cycle regulation, and human livelihoods. In Zimbabwe, these ecosystems face growing threats from urban expansion and unauthorized developments. The National Wetlands Masterplan, introduced in 2021, has mapped wetlands nationwide to guide sustainable land use and protect these critical areas.
Amkela Sidange, EMA’s Environmental Education and Publicity Manager, emphasized the need to respect these maps. “Development plans must align with wetland boundaries to prevent encroachment. Violating these guidelines is punishable under the Environmental Management Act and Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007, with penalties including fines of up to level 14 or imprisonment for up to two years,” Sidange said.
Local authorities and developers have been urged to conduct thorough assessments before allocating land or commencing projects, especially in ecologically sensitive areas. By the end of 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife had gazetted over 258,780 hectares of wetlands as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), a process in line with national and international conservation objectives.
This decision gains added significance as Zimbabwe prepares to host the 15th Conference of Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in July 2025. Under the theme “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” the conference highlights global efforts to conserve these vital ecosystems and underscores Zimbabwe’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
The rejection of the Greystone project underscores the need to prioritize ecological preservation amid increasing urbanization.
Harare’s water crisis has been greatly exacerbated by the ongoing construction of residential stands on wetlands. It is believed that 90 percent of the city is built on wetlands, and parts of Borrowdale, Marlborough, Bluffhill, Monavale, Chishawasha Hills, Mabvuku, Tafara and Rugare among other suburbs in low and high-density areas are built on them.
The primary streams that flow into Lake Chivero, the city’s primary water source, depend on wetlands to store and filter clean, fresh water.
