ZELA FOCAC 2024 STATEMENT: Key concerns and priorities for Africa for sustainable development

FOCAC 2024: Key concerns and priorities for Africa for sustainable development Date of issue: 6 September 2024 The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held from September 4 to 6 in Beijing, China, under the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared […]

Balancing Conservation and Development: Insights from ZELA’s Presentation at the Annual planetGOLD Forum

Compiled by Tatenda Mapooze The Zimbabwe Environmental Law (ZELA) was part of the Delegation that represented Zimbabwe during the recent annual planetGOLD forum in Talisay, Philippines. The planetGOLD programme is a global initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The programme is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with Conservation […]

Declaration of the 2024 Manicaland Provincial Alternative Mining Indaba

“Energy Transition Minerals: Putting Communities First for an Inclusive Feminist Future.” We, the 37 participants of the Manicaland Provincial Alternative Mining Indaba (PAMI) with diverse representation including community members, faith-based organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, government ministries and departments, and the academia, gathered here in Mutare on April 10, 2024: Recognizing the urgent […]

Human Rights Implications of Emerging Critical Minerals Supply Chains: Reflections on Case studies of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Zimbabwe

Compiled by Obert Bore The 15th edition of the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) 2024, convened under the theme ‘Energy Transition Minerals: Putting Communities First for an Inclusive Feminist Future’, to foster inclusive dialogue, promote feminist principles, strengthen solidarity and empowerment through knowledge. On the sidelines of the AMI, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association in collaboration with its […]

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development must urgently step up on transparency and accountability around tax expenditures.

11 August 2023 Introduction   The recent release of ZIMRA’s 2022 Annual Report has amplified the call by CSOs and recommendations from the 2022 Open Budget Survey (OBS) [1] on the need for the Government to step up on transparency and accountability of tax expenditures. The published ZIMRA report disclosed that the total revenue foregone because of […]

Understanding violence in Artisanal Small Scale Mining in Zimbabwe: Drivers, Implications and Key Options

By Mukasiri Sibanda-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Amid socio-economic malaise facing Zimbabwe, mining is the only remaining silver lining. The sector underpins the country’s socio-economic growth prospects. Gold which is expected to contribute US$4 billion, a third of the anticipated US$12 billion earnings from mining by 2023, undoubtedly, is strategic to the country’s development agenda. Central to […]

Does the 2020 National Budget have mining fiscal scaffolds?

By Mukasiri Sibanda (Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association) Soft landing into the budget analysis A few days after the release of the 2020 National Budget Statement, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) received an invitation from the Clerk of Parliament, to share its insights from a mineral resource governance perspective. The mining sector’s economic footprint has […]

My Take Always from the All Stakeholders Diamond Indaba

By Shamiso Mtisi Deputy Director for Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) and Coordinator of KP Civil Society Coalition    Despite years of working on diamonds, this is my very first blog profiling my observations and points of reflection in monitoring a highly sensitive diamond industry. This is a sector where one meets the rich, the […]

2020 National Budget must be hinged on US$12 billion mining economy strategy

By Mukasiri Sibanda  Introduction Anchored on public pre budget consultations, the process to formulate the 2020 National Budget Statement is underway. Public participation during budget formulation is fundamental. Citizens and civil society must grab the opportunity to influence how public revenues are generated and allocated to address the stubborn challenges posed by inequality and poverty. […]