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Harare water supply system under threat
Emmanuel Mungoshi,The Standard,
February 13, 2005

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/read.php?st_id=1705

HARARE's ground water supply system is under serious threat from uncontrolled cultivation and sand poaching on wetlands around the city, environmentalists have warned.

The warning comes at a time when people have raised questions about the safety of Harare's drinking water.

Speaking after a tour of Harare's wetlands recently, Environment Africa (EA) northern division branch manager, Barney Mawire, said wetlands cultivation posed a serious threat to the city's drinking water.

Mawire said: "If cultivation on wetlands continues unregulated chemicals such as fertilisers will also continue to accumulate in lakes which feed the city with drinking water.

"This is mainly because the wetlands have no time to hold water allowing for decomposition processes and for vegetation to reduce sediments and toxins in water. As a result more chemicals are going to be needed to purify the water."

Natural resource experts say wetlands play vital hydrological functions such as flood control, ground water discharge and regulating river flow.

Zimbabwe Rural Urban Planning Association (ZRUPA) president, Percy Toriro, said there should be careful planning before any major activity is carried out in the wetlands.

"An environment impact assessment should be undertaken before any development takes place," said Toriro, who is also Harare's Principal Town Planner.

He said ZIRUPA had embarked on a multifaceted approach to create awareness among the urban farmers.

"We are conducting training and teaching professionals (regional and town planners) in land use, so that if they plan with the environment in mind, wetlands have a chance for survival," Toriro said.

Harare City Council spokesperson, Leslie Gwindi, said the council in conjunction with the government was in the process of relocating wetland farmers to peri-urban areas.

"We are going to give the farmers alternative farming areas because wetlands have problems of drainage and siltation," Gwindi said.

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