By Own Correspondent- Presenting oral evidence before parliament, Environment and Tourism minister Prisca Mupfumira said the construction of houses and other related projects posed the greatest threat to wetlands.

Mupfumira also said none cooperation by citizens and the unwillingness by projects managers to comply with environmental laws threatened the existence of wetlands.

She said:

“There has been growing pressure and conflict in the manner in which wetlands should be utilised in Zimbabwe.

Commercial and housing construction projects are the greatest threats to wetlands in urban areas followed by unsustainable agricultural activities, resource extraction and veld fires in rural areas.

Non cooperation by citizens, negative attitudes by project developers, lack of appreciation on wetlands values, low compliance by local authorities and competing human interests tend to negate proper wetland management.”

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