Harare, Zimbabwe – Harare’s land crisis has reached a boiling point, with the City Council facing renewed accusations of illegally parcelling out critical wetlands for residential and commercial development.
This controversial practice, long at the center of public outrage, is now under the spotlight again, raising questions about accountability and the city’s role in a looming environmental catastrophe. The scandal is drawing scrutiny, especially as it involves prominent developer Ken Sharpe, whose past is marred by allegations of fraudulent land deals.
Across Harare, wetlands that are vital for water purification, flood control, and biodiversity are being destroyed by sand poaching and construction. The situation has residents furious, with many accusing city officials of neglecting their duty to protect the environment for future generations.
“This situation has gotten out of hand,” said Mudiwa Mundawarara, an Eastlea resident representative. “The city council has to be held accountable. Right now, Harare is going through a water crisis, which is being enabled by the loss of these water bodies.”
Amid the outcry, Pokugara Land Developer, represented by Ken Sharpe, has defended its project. Sharpe stated that all necessary paperwork was approved and that the development is not on wetlands. He urged the City of Harare to be transparent with Parliament.
However, Sharpe’s statement rings hollow for many, as his history is littered with contentious land transactions and legal battles. His name is synonymous with the murky world of land development in Zimbabwe, where accusations of illegal and inconsistent dealings have followed him for years. This new project, regardless of its approvals, is now under intense public and parliamentary scrutiny, fueled by his controversial past.
The gravity of the situation has caught the attention of Parliament. Senator Prisca Mupfumira, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Climate Change, noted “irregularities” at Town House after touring sites in Mt Pleasant, Pokugara, and Greendale.
“Wetlands purify our water, shield us from floods, and serve as vital habitats,” she said. “We cannot halt biodiversity loss or tackle the climate crisis without urgent action to protect and restore wetlands. Wetlands matter now more than ever.”
The senator’s comments signal a formal investigation is likely to be launched, putting both the Harare City Council and developers like Sharpe under intense pressure to explain their actions. Despite Zimbabwe’s commitment to conserving wetlands through the 2022 National Wetlands Policy, the ongoing destruction paints a grim picture of a city seemingly at war with its own environment.
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