Rift at Lake Chivero Clean-Up Widens as Transparency Concerns and Misrepresentation Claims Emerge

A split between Lake Chivero Eco Revival and the new Chivero Action Alliance has exposed transparency and governance disputes in a major clean-up initiative (image source)

A major volunteer campaign to rehabilitate Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe’s primary water source for Harare and one of the nation’s busiest recreational lakes, has been disrupted by a widening fallout between community groups over governance, transparency, and the handling of public donations. The dispute — now unfolding publicly through widely circulated WhatsApp messages and a contested letter issued by the newly formed Chivero Action Alliance — has fractured what was once a unified initiative operating under Lake Chivero Eco Revival.

The new Alliance claims the split resulted from a “scramble for power,” but Eco Revival members argue the real issue is unresolved questions about financial accountability. According to Eco Revival founder Liane Lynley Lombard, her organisation, working with volunteers, partners, and state authorities, repeatedly requested clarity on expenditure and donations received. She says most funding for meals, transport, equipment, and logistics came from her other community organisation, the Emergency Help Group (EHG), whose members donated specifically for Lake Chivero cleaning efforts.

Concerns grew after volunteers and prisoners assisting with labour reportedly received poor-quality meals, alongside allegations of incomplete or unclear financial reporting. Stakeholders said itemised accountability was needed before more donations could be mobilised. Instead, a faction led by Garry Stafford formed a new PVO — Chivero Action Alliance — and published a PDF suggesting the original team collapsed due to leadership battles. Eco Revival strongly disputes this narrative.

In a formal statement, Eco Revival member Masimba Chapeyama accused the new Alliance of “misleading stakeholders,” “evading responsibility,” and “misrepresenting Eco Revival’s work as its own.” The group says it does not oppose new environmental initiatives but insists that truthful communication and ethical governance are essential, especially where public funds are involved.

Amid rising tensions, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has tried to stabilise the situation, reiterating that no single group owns Lake Chivero’s restoration efforts. “As Parks we work with anyone who wants to clean Chivero. No one is superior to another. Pollution is our shared responsibility,” a representative said. ZimParks also noted that more than 55 tonnes of waste have been removed recently from the lake’s north and south banks.

Eco Revival has invited EMA, ZINWA, City of Harare, and the Ministry of Environment to upcoming clean-up activities to ensure full transparency and coordinated oversight. The lake remains in a state of environmental emergency, with untreated sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and recurring cyanobacteria blooms posing severe risks to human and ecological health.

For observers, the dispute underscores a critical truth: environmental activism must rest on transparency, collaboration, and ethical leadership. Without those foundations, even the most passionate volunteer efforts risk losing credibility — and Lake Chivero, already in urgent need of restoration, cannot afford delays.