Community Mirror Reporter
The City of Harare, in partnership with multiple environmental organizations, has launched an ambitious wetland restoration project at Hillside Park, marking a significant step toward preserving the city’s critical water resources and biodiversity.
The initiative brings together the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), BirdLife Zimbabwe, the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT), and the City Parks Trust in a collaborative effort to rehabilitate one of Harare’s gazetted ecologically sensitive areas.
EMA Provincial Environmental Manager Mr. Leon Mutungamiri said the stakeholders want to restore the Hillside wetland, which has been degraded over the years.
“These wetlands are headwater regions and play an important role in our lives. We are working with different stakeholders to develop comprehensive restoration strategies. The project encompasses the rehabilitation of the Hillside, Braeside, and other wetlands in Harare, which form part of a larger ecosystem crucial for Harare’s water supply. The restoration will follow international standards set by the Ramsar Convention, emphasizing the maintenance of natural wetland characteristics,” he said.
BirdLife Zimbabwe CEO Julia Pierini, emphasized the Hillside wetland’s significance.
“This wetland is gazetted as an ecologically sensitive area by government. Maintaining the wetland’s integrity and ensuring there is no fragmentation is critically important for water provisioning for the city of Harare.
Chief Parks and Cemeteries Officer at City of Harare Mr Godfrey Batsirai Munetsi said the restoration project includes comprehensive improvements to existing facilities.
“We want to revamp this place so that it is usable for the community and other patrons of Harare. We have an MOU with the Hillside residents who will assist us in mobilizing resources to spruce up the area to the expected status,” he said.
The initiative will feature multiple components, including:
- Rehabilitation of ablution facilities
- Restoration of the children’s playground
- Garden and grounds improvement
- Wetland ecosystem restoration extending to Chiremba Road
Nyasha Chiweshe, founder of the City Parks Trust, highlighted the project’s broader vision.
“The City Parks Trust was founded to rehabilitate the parks and natural green spaces around the city of Harare. This partnership with FAO, EMA, and the City of Harare represents a significant step toward achieving that goal,” she said.
“The project aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader commitment to wetland conservation, coming ahead of the country’s hosting of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls this July,” said Chiweshe.
The restoration effort will contribute to maintaining Harare’s vital water resources, as these wetlands are essential for recharging rivers, headwaters, and aquifers.
The restoration work is expected to begin immediately, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of maintaining the area’s natural flora and fauna while making it accessible to the community. The project represents a significant step forward in urban wetland conservation and community engagement in environmental preservation.
