The United Nations Environment Programme has called World Environment Day 2026 a moment to heed the urgent signals the Earth is sending, and to decide what signal humanity sends in return. Today, 5 June 2026, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) joins the global community in commemorating World Environment Day, held under the theme: “Inspired […]
5 June 2025 Today, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) joins the global community in celebrating World Environment Day 2025, focused on ending plastic pollution under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution. Amid these celebrations, ZELA notes with concern the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) findings that an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems […]
Zimbabwe was the only African country to meet the 10 February deadline The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) applauds the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife for its timely submission of its enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC3.0) 2020-2935 Country Statement by 10 February 2025. For us at ZELA, this milestone underscores […]
Compiled by Mutuso Dhliwayo and Hazel Tariro Chimbiro Introduction / Background To develop a cadre of judges, lawyers and experts with expertise in environmental law, strengthen access to courts in environmental cases and facilitate the effective adjudication of environmental cases, many countries have created specialized environmental courts and tribunals (ECTs) or environmental , green ‘benches’ […]
3 May 2024 Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis As we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we once again amplify calls for journalists to take up their role in environmental protection and promote responsible natural resource governance for a sustainable future. Journalism and the press have a critical role in safeguarding the environment […]
Compiled by Batanai Mutasa “Most human rights violations are well known and documented except environmental human rights, but environmental activists are losing their lives in numbers globally,” this was a passionate statement by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Legal Officer Effort Dube during a recent training for media practitioners on profiling Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs). […]
Compiled by Fortunate Chilenje Introduction The protection of environmental child rights is vital for ensuring a sustainable and equitable future. Owing to their distinct physiology, metabolism, and developmental requirements, children are disproportionately impacted by environmental changes. Changes in temperature, air and water quality and nutrition are likely to have more severe and long-term impacts on […]
Compiled by Batanai Mutasa As we approach the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV), the focus is on eliminating violence against women and girls. However, while the possibility of concentrating on the manifestations of various underlying causes of GBV such as physical and sexual abuse is high, this increases the risk of targeting […]
Compiled by Nobuhle T Mabhikwa-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Introduction Wildlife trade has been a topical issue in the past, but this time around what makes it more special is the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists suspect that the virus has its origins in snakes, bats and pangolins, the latter of which is an endangered wildlife species[1]. Although […]
By Nqobizitha Ndlovu-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Introduction The first quarter of the year has seen the outbreak and fight against the COVID-19 epidemic eclipse all world issues. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the disease a pandemic on 11 March 2020, and currently it has infected over 2 million and killed over 133, 000 people […]