Zimbabwe: 452 Glen Lorne Residents Appeal to Mnangagwa Over Wetland Development

What the report says

More than 452 residents of Glen Lorne in Harare have asked President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step in over a proposed housing development on Lytham Road, according to 263Chat. The residents say work on Stand 4717 should stop until an independent review examines the project’s environmental and legal implications, especially because the land is described as environmentally sensitive.

The group says it is worried about clearing of vegetation, earthworks, boreholes, possible changes to a dam and watercourse, and the effect on the local wetland. In their appeal, they argue that the area’s wetland forms part of the community’s water system and that further construction could affect drainage, groundwater recharge and long-term water security. They also say work has continued despite objections and earlier appeals to authorities.

The residents have reportedly sent their concerns to several officials and institutions, including National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, the Environmental Management Agency and the City of Harare. They are calling for an immediate halt to further work, an independent site inspection and an investigation into any environmental damage.

The dispute highlights a broader tension seen in many growing cities: how to balance housing development with wetland protection, water access and planning rules. In Glen Lorne, residents say the issue is not opposed to development itself, but to proceeding before the environmental questions are properly resolved.