By Tatiana Mhararira
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) on February 14, 2025 organized a media tour in Mukweture (ward 31) and Chapedo wetlands (ward 5) in Bikita in commemoration of the World Wetlands Day which was on February 2, 2025.
The wetlands conservation initiative was spearheaded by Christian Care which partnered with local communities providing resources and expertise.
Speaking during the tour, EMA Masvingo Provincial Manager, Milton Muusha urged communities to conserve wetlands as they play a crucial role in their everyday lives.
“As we commemorate the World Wetlands Day 2025 I encourage all our communities and various stakeholders to participate through taking part in awareness as well as wetlands restoration projects in various communities.
“Members of the media fraternity who are here today are encouraged to join the government in spreading the message on the need to restore and conserve wetlands as they play a vital role in our communities,” said Muusha.
In an interview with TellZim News, Christian Care Project Officer Regismistong Taruberekera said Christian Care facilitated the project at Mukweture and Chapedo wetland to reduce the number of people moving to other areas due to poverty.
“As Christian Care we worked with the communities moving with the notion Building Sustainable Livelihoods and Climate Resilience to mitigate displacement since many people were leaving the area in search of greener pastures because the wetlands were not conserved so that water would last for a long period of time.
“We worked with Act for Peace and The Charitable Foundation from Australia in a bid to protect the wetlands making sure that water is available closer to where people stay, people derive livelihoods from the project and coming up with community based protection groups that assist people in different social problems,” said Taruberekera.
Mazvimba headman Miracle Chaambuka said the vegetation in the Mukweture wetland was no longer visible but with the conservation measure done there is now existence of vegetation throughout the year.
“Before the wetland was conserved trees and grass used to dry up but with the wetland conservation measure vegetation is always green, livestock and people get water always. Different fruits are being found in the wetland.
“The wetland has become a source of water for the dam which stores the water in large quantities,” said Chaambuka.
The wetland project encompasses of wetland protection, catchment management, water harvesting, commercial garden, beekeeping and orchard.
Mukweture Wetland secretary Svodai Svaruka said they got lessons on conserving wetlands and resources needed.
“Growing up I never knew that wetlands were important and we can make a living out of them but we got enlightened on the need and ways of protecting the Mukweture wetland.
“We got fence enough to cover five hectares. We worked together as a community with nine villages coming together to conserve this wetland.
“We started beekeeping projects and after three months bees started flocking into the beehives. The project is flourishing well and more projects such as fish farming in fish ponds, gardens and tree planting are yet to come.
“The wetland projects has assisted us to be self-sufficient and reduced dependency on my husband since I’m getting some money from these projects.Hardwork is actually paying off to all community members,” said Svaruka.
The World Wetlands Day is a day commemorated to mark the signing of the Treaty on the Conservation of Wetlands, which was signed on the 2nd of February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. The Treaty became popularly known as the Ramsar Convention and its aim is to raise public awareness on conservation, proper utilisation and management of wetlands and their resources.
This year (2025)’s theme was, “Protecting wetlands for our common future,” Wetlands play a pivotal role to Masvingo as a province, and there is need to sustainably manage them to achieve intergenerational equity.
