Current urban development patterns in Zimbabwe have led to fragmented spatial growth that follows an unsustainable trajectory. The encroachment on wetlands due to reckless urban expansion has resulted in the degradation of these ecologically sensitive areas, exacerbating risks associated with natural disasters such as flooding and biodiversity loss particularly in the Harare Metropolitan Province. As a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Zimbabwe has committed to designating wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites). Ongoing urban development has largely overlooked the critical functions that these ecologically sensitive areas serve in urban environments. This research employed a mixed-method approach, utilizing document reviews, focus group discussions (FDGs), key informant interviews with urban development practitioners, GIS and remote sensing techniques. The findings reveal that wetlands are integral to nature-based solutions (NBS) that promote environmental sustainability, human health and wildlife conservation. This underscores the need for city managers to consider wetlands as Urban Living Labs (ULLs), where innovative strategies for urban resilience can be developed and tested. Consequently, this chapter advocates for a paradigm shift in policy implementation, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration between state and non-state actors. Furthermore, it promotes fostering a sense of community ownership over wetlands, recognizing that local engagement is vital for the sustainable management and preservation of these critical ecosystems. This synthesis of ecological studies and urban policy underscores the importance of wetlands in creating resilient urban environments capable of withstanding future challenges.