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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Fifteen community based organisations (CBOs) and residents’ associations across Harare have applauded the Government for launching the urban Pfumvudza Programme which will see the capital contributing around three percent to the national grain harvest.

The Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu on November 5 launched the Harare Metropolitan Province’s Pfumvudza Programme.

In a joint statement, the associations said the programme would go a long way in improving food security in the country and Zimbabwe would reclaim its status as the bread basket for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

They, however, urged farmers to desist from planting on wetlands.

In August 2021, Cabinet approved the National Wetlands Policy and Guidelines which was presented by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as chairman of the Enhanced Cabinet Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management.

CBOs and residents’ associations said the guidelines were developed to direct and provide information for the sustainable management of wetlands in the country.

“They provide a step by step process to guide short and long term developmental priorities to be followed when planning programmes and projects within these sensitive ecosystems,” they said.

“The guidelines also outline processes one has to follow if they are to carry out any activity on a wetland. According to the guidelines, draining, dredging, channelisation, removal of vegetation cover or removal of soil or organic cover of wetlands which could aggravate flooding problems or have adverse water quality or water quantity or hydrological impacts will not be permitted.

“As community based organisations and residents’ associations working towards the protection of wetlands we are worried that some unscrupulous individuals might receive inputs from the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and carry out their agriculture on wetlands in Harare.

“Wetlands are Harare’s main source of water, rivers and streams originate from wetlands and feed into Lake Chivero and Lake Manyame.”

The associations said the siltation of the capital’s dams was a result of agriculture on wetlands and stream banks.

“If agriculture is permitted on wetlands in Harare, we risk creating or worsening water shortages in the province.”