Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume has suggested establishing a dedicated wetland levy that could generate over US$227,000 each month to help protect the city’s rapidly disappearing ecosystems.
This proposal addresses increasing concerns over wetland destruction in Harare, where illegal developments, weak enforcement, and politically connected land invasions have accelerated environmental degradation and threatened water security.
During a technical workshop on ecosystem management held in Harare yesterday, Mafume emphasized that the city could raise substantial funds for wetland conservation by allocating just 0.5% to 1% of its monthly budget to this effort.
“Even a 0.5 percent levy dedicated to wetland preservation would make a significant impact if properly monitored,” he stated.
