According
to
human
rights
lawyer
Douglas
Coltart,
the
23
MPs
were
allocated
stands
on
the
Monavale
wetland,
even
though
Zimbabwe
currently
holds
the
presidency
of
the
Ramsar
Convention.
In
2025,
the
Ministry
of
Local
Government
has
allocated
70
residential
stands
to
MPs
across
Harare,
Goromonzi
and
Zvimba.
The
Ministry
requested
local
authorities,
including
Harare
City
Council,
to
provide
low-density
stands
in
“leafy”
northern
suburbs
such
as
Borrowdale,
Marlborough,
Greystone
Park
and
Mabelreign.
Monavale
Vlei
forms
part
of
the
Manyame
catchment
basin,
the
main
water
supply
for
Harare
and
surrounding
towns.
The
Conservation
Society
of
Monavale
(COSMO)
has
managed
and
restored
the
wetland
since
2005.
COSMO,
the
Harare
Wetlands
Trust
and
residents
lodged
appeals
with
the
Minister
of
Environment
on
17
December
2025.