HCC, Harare Wetlands Trust set to enter synergy
Acting Town Clerk authorised to negotiate M.o.U and both parties are set to work together in the protection, preservation of Wetlands.
Harare- Harare City Council has authorised acting Town Clerk Engineer Phakamile Moyo to enter into negotiations with Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) for a Memorandum of Understanding with the pressure group.
Both parties are set to synergies in the protection and preservation of Wetlands.
Minutes of the recent Environment Management Committee meeting spelt out that HWT approached the council.
“Following the above engagement with the city, it was agreed HWT produce a drafted memorandum of understanding to kick- start negotiations with the city.
“Harare Wetlands Trust and the City of Harare are to collaborate with willing communities within the suburbs to develop local environment plans which would incorporate wetland management plans with leases,” read the minutes.
According to the minutes, the co-operation will be anchored on the development of legal, policy and institutional policies and programmes that enhance wetland preservation.
The agreement should centre on joint monitoring of wetlands and other ecologically sensitive areas in Harare.
“Council agreed to carry out publicity and awareness campaigns on environmental, wetlands and bio-diversity and ecological conservation,” read the minutes.
The agreement also includes activities such as bio-diversity and securing the primary source of Harare’s raw water sources.
At the national level, the verification of the number of people living on irregular and dysfunctional settlements including in flood prone areas continues while the National Wetlands Master Plan, which will inform the development of the National Wetlands Policy, has been completed on time, Cabinet heard recently.
The inventory of Zimbabwe’s wetlands together with the accompanying maps is now available in hardcopy and electronic format.
The Master Plan is comprehensive.
