Liberty Nhengu | Africa is under the threat of experiencing the worst floods if countries continue to neglect the importance of keeping their buildings away from wetlands. Zimbabwe is one of the countries with very arrogant professionals when it comes to sustainable development. Many houses both in the rural and urban areas are being constructed in wetlands, putting them close to resources and for accessibility.

Some are even doing so with a myopic argument that land is becoming more scarce. Scarce in Zimbabwe? Really? If you visit Chipinge town, one will be shocked to see how wetlands are being abused. The town is becoming the arena of land barons, the number of slums is surpassing that of standard houses. The grave part of the case is that the slums are being built right at the centre of wetlands.

Sustainable development goals were set to advocate and emphasise the need to consider sustainability as a key issue in our day to day business. Many contemporary buildings such as the Long Cheng Plaza were built only to serve the interests of few people, while neglecting the malicious problems that will emanate there in a few years to come. Putting the buildings on top of underground streams stresses the sources of water and so when ever rain comes, the source will become full and saturated in a short period of time. The water will find it’s way to the buildings that are located close to or within these wetlands.  How funny is it to know that some people have to relocate from their homes for a couple of weeks or months during the rainy season.They return after the rain has gone down to avoid floods and outbreak of diseases.
Some Zimbabweans argue that they gained the knowledge of utilising the wetlands from the Chinese community, but the sad thing is that even the Chinese government is now campaigning against using these wetlands as building sites. The Chinese are helping Africa in ensuring that the sustainable development goals are achieved. So what is wrong with us then? Wetlands acts as water purification sources. After run off, the water gets dirty and muddy, but as it passes through a wetland it gets purified and finds its way to the dam in a clean state. Therefore, if we take these areas as building sites, it means that natural purifiers will no longer exist.
By Liberty Nhengu ( University of Zimbabwe student)
Department of rural and urban planning
[email protected]