Deadline: 1 March 2021 Background The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is a premier public interest environmental law organisation which seeks to promote environmental justice, sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, democracy and good governance in the natural resources and environment sector. ZELA’s work is mainly anchored on a core group of rights which are […]

Terms of Reference (TOR): Assessment of Tributary Agreements in the ASM Sector in Zimbabwe.   Deadline: 28 February 2021 Introduction and Background The artisanal and small-scale mining sector (ASM) is an indispensable source of livelihood for mineral rich communities in the country. However, most miners in these communities operate in informal mining arrangements characterised by […]

Prohibitive Mining licencing fees a “back-stab” to sustainable mining development Introduction and Background The Minister of Mines and Mining Development has in terms of section 403 of the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] increased mining fees by over 800 percent quoting the fees in United States dollars[1] but payable at the prevailing exchange rate.  […]

At a time when the country is extending a begging bowl to procure COVID-19 vaccines, the government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) is awarding tax holidays to extractive companies. The government recently granted a five-year tax holiday to Great Dyke Investments, a platinum mine operation. This is particularly concerning because the mining sector is a key contributor […]

The Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Natural Resource Governance (STAR-NRG) consortium members, Silveira House and the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) have called on mining companies, policy makers, artisanal and small-scale miners to review and enforce implementation of child –sensitive policies in the extractive industry, a sector that has exposed children to health hazards and […]

With the increasing demand for critical minerals in renewable energy such as lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel, companies are ever racing to produce the technology needed to support the low-carbon transition, from electric vehicles to solar panels to wind turbines. However, the companies’ human rights due diligence is not keeping pace with expanding exploration, increasing […]

Compiled by Michelle Matsvaire, Rodrick Moyo and Byron Zamasiya-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Zimbabwe was hit by another cyclone in January 2021 at a time when the country was taking stock of the damage by cyclone Chalane. Cyclone Eloise reached Zimbabwe after weakening into a tropical storm. Prior to its arrival, the Civil Protection Unit and […]

Compiled by Paul Matshona and Joshua Y. Machinga-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Background Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an indispensable sector in many developing countries. In Zimbabwe, the sector contributes to a broad-based development of the economy, contributing more than 60% of export receipts, more than 13% to GDP direct investment into the country[1]. The […]