As the sun casts a golden glow over the Manyame River wetlands, Tapiwa Marangwanda surveys the scene with a mix of pride and concern.
This lush, biodiverse landscape, home to a kaleidoscope of plant and animal life, is under threat.
“Our wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate,” said Marangwanda, a community organiser and environmental activist in a recent interview.
“If we don’t act now, we risk losing these vital ecosystems forever,” he asserted.
In old Tafara, to the east of the capital, Harare, a once vibrant wetland around the Gosden area on the western side has been devastated by housing developments facilitated by land barons, leaving local environmental activist Rex Chikoti dismayed as he surveys the dwindling remnants of this vital ecological resource.
“These wetlands are the lifeblood of our community. Their loss is devastating for us all,” he lamented while standing on a rock formation overlooking the new settlement gradually swapping the wetlands.
The scenarios and statistics are sobering. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), Zimbabwe is losing its wetlands at an annual rate of 2,5% — a trajectory that, if unchecked, could see the country’s marshes, swamps, and floodplains reduced by 60% in the coming decades.
The consequences would be devastating, not just for Zimbabwe’s fragile ecosystems, but for the very fabric of its society.
“Wetlands are the foundation of our food and water security,” further explained Marangwanda.
“They regulate floods, recharge groundwater, and provide critical habitat for the flora and fauna that sustain our livelihoods.
“When we lose them, we lose the very lifeblood of our communities.”
Across Zimbabwe, a growing chorus of voices is rising up to confront this crisis.
Environmental experts are calling for a consolidation of the current wetland action plans, one that prioritise restoration, conservation of existing wetlands, and the adoption of urban and peri-urban farming methods that can adapt to the shifting landscape.
“If we implement these measures now, we could reduce Zimbabwe’s annual wetland loss by 60%,” says Dr Rudo Gwata, a wetland ecologist in a recent research paper.
“That would translate to a 0,25% reduction in global wetland loss — a significant contribution to the fight for a sustainable future,” she further pointed out.
The stakes could not be higher.
As Zimbabwe’s population grows, expected to double by 2050, the demand for arable land, fresh water and other natural resources will only intensify.
Preserving the country’s wetlands has become a matter of national security, a bulwark against the twin threats of food insecurity and water scarcity.
But the path forward is not without its challenges.
Said Mutuso Dhliwayo, director for the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association, in an interview: “Competing land-use demands, limited funding, and a lack of public awareness have all hampered past conservation efforts. That’s why community-based initiatives have become so vital.
“We’re working directly with local farmers and landowners to demonstrate the benefits of wetland-friendly farming practices.
“By planting trees, improving soil health and preventing erosion, we’re not only preserving the wetlands, but also boosting food production and creating green jobs.”
Zimbabwe has a variety of wetlands which cover 13 659 579 ha or 34,96% of the total area of the country (38 685 000 ha), according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.
The community-led efforts by Marangwanda and Chikoti have caught the attention of policymakers, who are now scrambling to enshrine wetland conservation as a national priority.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has underscored the urgency of the situation.
“Our wetlands are the lungs of our nation, the lifeblood that sustains our people and our economy,” a recent statement from EMA read.
“We must act now to protect them, not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.”
Beyond the policy realm, grassroot organisations like the Community Water Alliance (CWA) are working to empower local communities in the fight to save Zimbabwe’s wetlands.
Through educational programmes and hands-on restoration projects, they are instilling a deep sense of ownership and stewardship among the people whose lives are most directly impacted.
“When people understand the true value of wetlands — not just for the environment, but for their own livelihoods and well-being — they become fiercely committed to protecting them,” said Chris Gohori, programmes manager for CWA, in a recent engagement with NewsDay.
One such community they work with is Chirumanzu, where the local people have long revered the Manyuchi wetlands as a sacred site.
Elders like Sekuru Mupfurutsa have passed down traditional knowledge and sustainable land-use practices for generations, ensuring the delicate balance between human activity and ecological preservation.
“Our wetlands are not just places of beauty and abundance,” Mupfurutsa said in an interview.
“They are the very foundation of our way of life, our identity as a people.
“To lose them would be to lose a part of ourselves.”
As the sun dips below the horizon, Marangwanda reflects on the challenges ahead.
But his eyes are filled with determination, a resolve to safeguard Zimbabwe’s wetlands and the countless lives they support.
“This is our legacy, our responsibility,” he said.
“We must rise to the occasion and show the world that a sustainable future is possible, one wetland at a time.”
From the bustling cities to the remote rural communities, the message is clear: Zimbabwe’s wetlands are not just environmental assets, but social, economic and cultural cornerstones that should be protected at all costs.
With the help of dedicated experts, empowered citizens and forward-thinking policymakers, the country may just have a fighting chance to turn the tide on this ecological crisis — and inspire the rest of the world to follow suit.