Steelmate director Chisenye ‘swims’ into wetlands storm
Chisenye 'pulled a middle finger' at HWT and City Fathers saying he has no time to respond to "nonsense".
Harare- STEELMATE director Clive Chisenye is alleged to have violated government’s policy of wetlands preservation, Express Mail Zim can report.
Chisenye developed cluster houses at a wetland in Sentosa and is in the process of expanding the property disregarding council by-laws.
“Chisenye connived with some rogue EMA agents to irregurally acquire an EIA certificate,” said our source within the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) structures.
In June, Chisenye and accomplices got a warning from residents but they have been continually invading the wetland despite efforts by Ward 17 residents to halt the development of roads and demarcation of stands in the vlei.
Mabelreign district officer Jane Gambiza had to engage the police to stop the development.
Express Mail Zim understands that the recent Harare City Council Environmental Management Committe Management Committee resolved to partner with HWT in the fight against the proliferation of development of structures on Wetlands.
Government has continued to push for the protection of wetlands and making efforts to ring-fence these vital ecosystems from encroachment and degradation.
Express Mail Zim had a site visit at Sentosa Gardens last week and witnessed the encroachment.
Zimbabwe is a signatory of an international convention on wetlands adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
The convention has 171 contracting parties who commit to designating wetlands of high value on a list of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), and to use all wetlands wisely and cooperate on transboundary issues.
Zimbabwe has been a party to the Ramsar Convention since 2013.
However, the country’s wetlands are under serious threat from unscrupulous land developers.
According to a draft government policy document, wetlands make up 3% of Zimbabwe’s total surface area, about 11 700 square kilometres. Of the available wetlands, 21% are classified as stable, 18 % are severely degraded and 61% moderately degraded. This excludes reservoirs, dams and impoundments that cover 652 151ha, as well as permanent
rivers and streams that cover over 5 700km .
When reached for comment Chisenye ‘pulled a middle finger’ at HWT and City Fathers saying he has no time to respond to “nonsense”.
“I have no time to respond to that nonsense my brother.
” Go back to whoever gave you that information,” said the millionaire businessman.
