Clive Chisenye, director of STEELMATE, is reported to have breached government regulations on wetlands conservation, according to Express Mail Zim.
Chisenye has been developing cluster housing on a wetland in Sentosa and is planning further expansion in defiance of local council regulations.
A source from the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) claims that Chisenye colluded with corrupt EMA officials to unlawfully obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate.
Despite receiving a warning from residents in June, Chisenye and his associates have persisted in encroaching on the wetland, with ongoing efforts by Ward 17 residents to prevent road construction and land demarcation proving ineffective.
Mabelreign district officer Jane Gambiza had to involve the police to halt the development.
Express Mail Zim has learned that the Harare City Council’s Environmental Management Committee has decided to collaborate with HWT to combat the spread of development on wetlands.
The government continues to advocate for the protection of wetlands, striving to shield these crucial ecosystems from encroachment and damage.
Express Mail Zim visited Sentosa Gardens last week and observed the ongoing encroachment.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. This international treaty, which has 171 parties, commits signatories to protect wetlands of significant value, use all wetlands wisely, and address transboundary issues.
Zimbabwe has been a member of the Ramsar Convention since 2013.
However, wetlands in Zimbabwe face serious threats from unethical land developers.
A draft government policy document reveals that wetlands constitute 3% of Zimbabwe’s land area, roughly 11,700 square kilometers. Of these wetlands, 21% are considered stable, 18% are severely degraded, and 61% are moderately degraded. This does not include reservoirs, dams, and impoundments that cover 652,151 hectares, nor permanent rivers and streams that span over 5,700 kilometers.
When contacted for comment, Chisenye dismissed the concerns from HWT and city officials, stating, “I have no time to respond to that nonsense, my brother. Go back to whoever gave you that information,” said the wealthy businessman.
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