“In Our Own Words” Linking communities with decision makers & the world 

Compiled by Shamiso Mtisi-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Community based human rights training Community based human rights training is a critical element in capacitating community groups and individuals to assert and claim their rights against state and non-state actors in the natural resources sector. The rights that community members should claim to enjoy are not different […]

WCDI creating, nurturing and transforming

The Women Can Do It (WCDI) project targeting women miners and small business owners is a project that reflects magnificent transformation. The following testimonies told by women themselves show how the project has increased their self confidence, strengthened their struggle for women rights and gender equality and their motivation to become influential. My name is […]

Illicit Gold Trade and Smuggling: Vulnerabilities Exposed by Rushwaya Case

13 November, 2020 Introduction In 2020, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) followed closely the arrest of Henrietta Rushwaya, the President of Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGM) International Airport on allegations of attempting to smuggle about 6kgs of refined gold to Dubai. Corruption and gold smuggling among other issues have […]

Safety and Health in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is key for Sustainable Mining Development.

Compiled by Joshua Machinga and Paul Matshona-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Introduction This blog is a build up  from the previous write up which delved deeper on the benefits of formalising the Artisanal and Small scale Mining sector (ASM) in Zimbabwe. This time around, we get to focus on safety and health in the ASM […]

Linking communities with decision makers and the world

Key concepts & approaches on community capacity building in the mining & natural resources sector Compiled by Shamiso Mtisi-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association INTRODUCTION This write up is an expression of theoretical and practical concepts, lessons and approaches that have been observed and noted as potential best practice for improving the capacity of community based groups […]

Call for consultancy: Development of a Training Manual on Open Government Platform for Civil Society and Community Based Groups

Terms of Reference 1.0 Background A local Non-Governmental Law Association seeks to carry out a training and cross learning for Publish What You Pay East and Southern Africa (PWYP ESA) members on Open Government Platform with a special focus on Open Contracting. The training seeks to strengthen financial probity of civil society organisation (CSOs) and […]

The 2021 Pre Budget-Strategy Paper: Are There any Hopes of Advancing Mining Sector Transparency Reforms?

19 October 2020 Introduction The government of Zimbabwe has started processes to develop the 2021 National Budget. Last week, two important 2021 budget formulation milestones were achieved namely; Public Hearings on the 2021 Budget and the release of the 2021 Pre Budget-Strategy Paper[1].  The 2021 Pre Budget Strategy paper themed, “ Building Resilience and Economic […]

Urgently reform the law to effect ban on mining in protected areas & rivers: ZELA

Mutuso Dhliwayo-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Introduction The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) welcomes the government’s ban on mining in National Parks and Riverbed and Alluvial Mining on Rivers.[1] “Mining on areas held by national parks is banned with immediate effect. Steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining title held in national parks,” Information […]