Speech by Shamiso Mtisi – Deputy Director (ZELO)
Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI)
Hon Deputy Minister,
Minister of State for Matebeland,
Dear distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen,
15 years ago, at Double Tree Hotel in Cape Town and on the sidelines of the Alternative Mining Indaba, I sat for lunch with Moreblessings Chidaushe. Moreblessings was still with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) at that time. This was after the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) event had ended. The AMI was led by Economic Justice Network (EJN) and NCA. Moreblessings asked me what ZELA would do as a follow up to the Cape Town event. My response was that ZELA will organise an Alternative Mining Indaba in Zimbabwe. She agreed. She said in order for ZELA to organise this event as the subject and technical expert on mining, this has to be done in collaboration with religious organisations and NCA partners in Zimbabwe namely, Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD). Zimbabwe became the first African country to organise national level Alternative Mining Indaba.. The same Moreblessings agreed to decentralise the ZAMI to reach out to rural communities through Provincial and District Indaba’s. Ladies and gentlemen, 14 years later here we are at this Indaba. I am recounting this history of the ZAMI as many of you may not know it.
At ZELO we have viewed the ZAMI as a space and tent for everyone to dialogue on mining issues; communities affected by mining or those benefiting from mining, civil society groups, religious groups, mining companies and investors, Artisanal and Small-Scale miners, Government and local authorities among others. We are very proud to notice that many communities touched by our approach have had meaningful engagements with companies and Government. When AMI itself started in South Africa, inviting companies to dialogue with communities and CSOs was unheard. We introduced that idea and the AMI conversations have become rich in terms of content as Companies and Government officials have been engaging with communities and civil society groups.
Our Value Proposition
At ZELO we champion sustainable natural resources governance through cutting-edge evidence-based research, capacity strengthening, knowledge sharing, multi-stakeholder engagement and provision of legal and technical support.
- We provide expert legal and technical support to communities, the private sector, and all levels of government—helping them understand, apply, and enforce environmental laws and solutions that safeguard ecosystems, promote sustainable development, and secure environmental justice. Because our work cuts across all levels of society, we help shape policies and laws that are grounded in real-world contexts and responsive to local realities.
- Our legal work cuts across different sectors including; Climate Change and Energy, Land, Water, Forests, Agriculture, Wildlife and Mineral resources among others. Our niche is advancing natural resources governance through a legal lens. The law is our window to the world. We have never changed our focus.
- Our work is transformative and not agitation, we believe in engagement and constructive dialogue.
Where we work
- We work from the local to the global
- We have programmed in different communities across Zimbabwe including; Marange, Mutare, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutasa, Zvishavane, Bikita, Kamativi, Gwanda, Shurugwi, Bubi, Gutu, Hurungwe, Mudzi, Chiredzi, Matobo, Insiza, Lupane, Binga, Hwange, Muzarabani, Harare, and Chivi among others.
- Over the past 25 years, we have built a strong reputation both locally and internationally for using the law to advance equitable and sustainable governance of natural resources. We are known in international natural resources negotiations and forums be it on mining, climate change and business and human rights (responsible sourcing), including KP, UNGPs, OECD, UNFCCC among others.
Approaches and where we work
- Our research informs law, policy and practice and this has enabled ZELO to have a proven track record of working to address the plight of marginalised communities in the environmental spaces. We generate timely, rigorous, and relevant data to shape our governance and advocacy work.
- Technical legal and policy expertise and influence: We have specialized expertise in environmental law, natural resource governance, and policy modeling. This technical capacity enables our organization to meaningfully contribute to legal reforms, policy development, and the provision of legal and technical support to communities and government bodies. Examples of laws influenced include; Constitution on environmental rights, Climate Change Bill, Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, Environmental and Natural Resources Model By-Laws for Local Authorities, Parks and Wildlife Bill among others.
- Community empowerment: We empower communities through legal training and registering grassroots based groups in natural resources rich areas to assert and demand their rights. This will help companies and government to protect, promote and respect the rights of communities in mining areas or natural resource rich areas.
- Support Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners (ASMers) and Rights in Action: Our work has not just been talk. We use a rights in action approach to programming. We have provided mining equipment to ASMers in Gwanda, and have provided Protective Personal Equipment to miners in different regions including trainings on safety, health and environment. We have even drilled a total of 11 water boreholes for communities in Marange, Chipinge, Chimanimani etc. In Mbire, we donated cattle to communities and have helped small-scale farmers in Gutu with irrigation equipment and connection to electricity at irrigation schemes.
- Work with Parliament: work closely with mining parliament to promote adoption of laws and policies that promote investments in the country. We help parliament to effectively play its legislative, oversight and representation role in the natural resources sector.
- Effective stakeholder engagement: We effectively engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including local communities, civil society organizations, government agencies, traditional leaders, regional bodies, and international institutions. Our inclusive and participatory approach has enhanced our legitimacy, built trust, and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogue. We do this by acting as a bridge between grassroots communities and policymakers.
Our approaches and programming going forward
- We will continue programming on Climate Change and Energy, Land and Natural Resources, Urban Environments, Responsible Investments and Business, and Extractives (Mining).
- We will continue helping communities to engage companies and Government to address their concerns
- Continue providing technical assistance to Government departments, local authorities and companies,
- Promote Responsible investments and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG); and ensure continued collaboration with Gvt in attracting responsible investors into the country.
- Engage and shape international debates and discussions on climate change, business and human rights, ESG,
- Help ASMers to engage in critical minerals and enhancing value addition in the sector
- Finalisation of the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill