A Hidden Gem in Peril
Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Umzingwane’s Ward 9 in Matabeleland South, a remarkable natural treasure lies hidden beneath a tapestry of rocky mountain ranges and lush greenery. This is Morning Glory, a pristine wetland that serves as the heart of a four-village ring on the eastern edge of the Matobo World Heritage Site. Known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance, this wetland is more than just a scenic wonder—it is a lifeline for the surrounding communities.
Morning Glory provides clean water essential for daily life and supports subsistence farming, which forms the backbone of the local economy. However, beneath its serene beauty, a growing conflict over conservation efforts has emerged. Tafadzwa Tichagwa, a guide and representative of Dambari Wildlife Trust (DWT), emphasizes that the wetland was selected as a model for protection to maximize its benefits. He explains that it plays a crucial role in sustaining livelihoods by serving as a source of portable water and supporting agricultural activities.
Despite these efforts, safeguarding the wetland has proven challenging. The area is surrounded by mountains where human activities often lead to environmental degradation. Water from Morning Glory flows into tributaries that feed into Mtshabezi Dam, a critical source of Bulawayo’s tap water. Recognizing the importance of the wetland, DWT, in collaboration with local stakeholders, erected a perimeter fence around its core in 2022 as part of a United States-sponsored resilience project. While community elders supported this initiative, the youth showed little interest in the conservation efforts.
The fence, however, was stolen, sparking concern among environmentalists. This incident reflects a broader national crisis, raising questions about effective long-term strategies for wetland protection. Wetlands across Zimbabwe are under severe threat, with significant consequences for water resources, biodiversity, and ecological balance. Experts suggest that addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, including stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, community-led conservation efforts, and tackling the root causes of degradation such as urban expansion, agricultural intensification, and climate change.
A 2021 EMA survey revealed that only 17.63% of Zimbabwe’s wetlands remain in pristine condition, with over half moderately degraded and 26.72% severely damaged. Urban expansion, climate change, and pollution are accelerating this decline. In Harare, an analysis by the Harare Wetlands Trust found that wetlands declined by 50% between 2007 and 2019, attributed to cultivation, housing developments, and illegal settlements. A 2020 UN Development Programme report highlighted that 30 wetlands in Harare were under threat from illegal settlements.
While the government has expressed commitment to protecting these wetlands, critics argue that actions have not matched words. Wetlands act as natural sponges for rainwater, and their destruction has led to increased flooding in areas like Budiriro and Mabvuku. Current efforts by EMA to collect data for new statistics show that wetlands continue to face challenges due to urban development, climate change, and pollution.
Tichagwa urges collaboration between authorities and stakeholders to protect these national treasures. He emphasizes that fencing alone is not the ultimate solution but rather a starting point. “We need to address attitudes and practices,” he says. Historically, wetlands were preserved through cultural beliefs, including taboos and traditional practices. For example, villagers recall that it was forbidden to wash clothes or fetch water with sooty pots in these spaces. However, such knowledge is fading, with many younger generations forgetting these ancient practices.
Studies highlight the importance of indigenous systems in sustainable wetland management, blending ecological, social, and cultural insights. Sam Matema, chairperson of the parliamentary committee on environment, climate, and wildlife, calls for a convergence between modern science and indigenous knowledge. “Science may deem wetlands ordinary, but many still respect their mysteries,” he notes.
In Matobo’s Ward 9, the question of stewardship remains unresolved, as the youth, seen as future custodians of the environment, often repel responsibility. Tichagwa sees the stolen fence as evidence of a misunderstanding of preservation concepts. He believes that sustainable wetland protection is a shared community responsibility, with top-down approaches likely to fail.
At Ntunjambili, a similar rehabilitation concept thrives, while at Gulati wetland, the strategy failed. Environmental researcher Solomon Mungure suggests that integrating African science could be key to effective wetland management. “Science isn’t confined to labs. Indigenous practices, born of lived experience, have protected ecosystems for generations,” he says.
As Zimbabwe prepares to host the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands COP15 in 2025, EMA provincial manager Decent Ndlovu calls for traditional leaders to reinforce their role as chief custodians of the environment. “We need traditional leaders taking charge of their role in conservation to ensure that wetlands are effectively protected,” he states.
A recent report by the Convention on Wetlands warns that wetlands—ecosystems providing water, food, livelihoods, and climate protection—are disappearing at an alarming rate. If current trends continue, up to 20% of the world’s remaining wetlands could vanish by 2050, risking an estimated US$39 trillion in global benefits. Wetlands currently cover about 6% of the Earth’s surface but contribute more than 7.5% of global GDP through services such as clean water, flood protection, food security, and carbon storage. Despite their importance, wetlands are vanishing faster than any other ecosystem—an average of 0.52% per year. Since 1970, 22% of wetlands have been lost, equivalent to more than half a billion football pitches.
