(N.B. FOR ALL SIGNATORIES - PLEASE SIGN ONLY - THERE IS NO NEED FOR A DONATION)

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HARARE, ZIMBABWE, call for: 

▪ the urgent protection of all Brachystegia spiciformis (commonly, Musasa) and mature trees,

▪ the rejuvenation and protection of non-motorised transportation (NMT) infrastructure, and 

▪ inclusive and people-centred design in all public and private developments located along ED Mnangwagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road) in Harare.

Our demand is grounded in concern where road expansion, and public and private commercial developments threaten to remove Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa) along ED Mnangwagwa Road. These majestic trees—some over two centuries old—stand as living witnesses to Zimbabwe’s environmental and cultural history. Their destruction would constitute a grave violation of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, environmental laws, and international climate commitments. But more than this: they are symbolic of a broader environmental and civic crisis of unbalanced, car-centric urban development that is erasing indigenous biodiversity, endangering pedestrians and cyclists, and ignoring legal obligations for community consultation and ecological stewardship within the City of Harare in its public spaces.

A DOUBLE CRISIS: STATE AND PRIVATE DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC SPACES WITHOUT COMMUNITY CONSENT

In recent years, private developers have been clearing indigenous trees, and mature flora, and at the same time damaging pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, resulting in widespread dangers and increasing destruction of the livability of urban public spaces. Roads are being expanded posing grave dangers to pedestrians and cyclists who cannot safely traverse these high-speed zones, and are exposed to increasing air pollution, whilst being disconnected due to fragmented walking and cycling routes. All of this is taking place with inadequate interdepartmental, intergovernmental and stakeholder collaboration, no clear accountability, no shared design plans, and no consultation with the communities who use, and value these spaces.

We assert that both state-led and private development must be held to the same legal and moral standard, especially when it comes to environmental protection, and inclusivity and safety in public spaces.

LEGAL FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR DEMANDS
We reaffirm our rights and the responsibilities of the State under the following:

1.     Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013):
Section 73: Environmental Rights guarantee the right to an environment not harmful to health or well-being and obligate the State to promote conservation and protect ecosystems for future generations.

Section 62: Right to Information entitles every citizen to access information held by the State or any institution in the interest of public accountability.

Section 81: Rights of Children to be protected by the design of safe and accessible road infrastructure.

Section 13(2): Local Development Participation requires that people be involved in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes affecting them.

2.     Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27]:
Sections 95–97: Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are mandatory for road projects, commercial developments, and any activity likely to impact biodiversity or alter land use significantly.

Schedule 1 lists roadworks and large developments as projects requiring EIA licensing and public scrutiny.

3.     Forestry Act [Chapter 19:05]:
Section 38 prohibits the destruction of protected indigenous trees such as Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa) without a Forestry Commission permit.

4.     Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15]:
Mandates that local authorities preserve public amenities and consult residents on major infrastructure decisions, and construct and maintain non-motorised transportation (NMT) infrastructure.

OUR DEMANDS – FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS 

We hereby call on national and local authorities to act in the interest of the public and the law by implementing the following IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: 

• Halt the planned felling of all Brachystegia spiciformis (Musasa) and mature trees alongside ED Mnangwagwa Road pending a full environmental and community review.
• Release all development plans for ED Mnanagwagwa Road (including private and public projects) into the public domain for scrutiny.
• Conduct an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that includes:
  • The full road-widening proposal,
  • All public and private developments adjacent to the road, and,
  • The cumulative impact on urban biodiversity, non-motorised transportation (NMT) infrastructure, and community well-being.
• Enforce compliance with the Forestry Act and Environmental Management Act for all landowners and developers along this corridor.
• Guarantee the protection of existing cycling and pedestrian tracks and connectivity, and redesign the road with a “complete streets” approach that centres the safety, dignity, and mobility of all users prioritising vulnerable users, whilst holistically integrating, rejuvenating and connecting all currently damaged infrastructure. 
• Implement an immediate public consultation process, ensuring residents of Harare are informed and empowered to contribute to decisions that reshape their neighbourhoods. This will be best executed as a meeting held on site, with all stakeholders navigating the area on foot during peak congestion to experience the tangible effects and outcome of the current design of infrastructure which has prioritised motorised transportation.
• Develop and publish a register of heritage and protected trees in the City of Harare, beginning with those along Enterprise Road. 

WHY THIS MATTERS 

• We are not anti-development. We are against development that destroys, excludes, and endangers vulnerable ecosystems and people. 
• We are not against roads. We are against roads that are designed only for cars, erase our natural heritage, endanger pedestrians, and fragment our communities. 
• We are not nostalgic. We are future-focused—and the future depends on green, inclusive, just, and transparent urban planning. 

WE STAND FOR: 

• Biodiversity: Indigenous trees are homes for wildlife, part of our cultural identity, and key to climate resilience in an age of rapid urbanization. 
• Equity: Development must serve all people – not only car owners or private investors. 
• Safety: Speed-focused roads without considering vulnerable road users will result in death and damage to health and property. 
• Community: Urban planning must connect – not divide – our neighbourhoods. 
• Legacy: The public spaces and natural ecosystems we destroy today will affect generations to come. 

We reject car-centric, opaque and destructive development. We demand legal compliance, ecological stewardship, and design that values life. Respectfully submitted by the citizens who care about the future of Ward 7, and Harare.