Wetlands vital in protecting our biodiversity

WORLD WETLANDS DAY [2nd February 2020] Theme: Wetlands and Biodiversity The World Wetlands Day celebrated on the 2nd February of every year marks the date for the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) in the Iranian City of Ramsar on the same day in 1971. The Ramsar Convention recognises the extreme importance of […]

Transparency dosage critical to help the fight against violence in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

As the government of Zimbabwe takes action to contain machete gangs who have wreaked havoc in almost every key gold producing areas in Zimbabwe, mining sector transparency reforms must not go under the policy radar. To a large extent, Publish What You Pay-Zimbabwe believes that opacity, the secretive way in which the mining sector operates […]

2020 Message from ZELA’s Executive Director

Dear Partners, Colleagues and Stakeholders This is to notify you that the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is officially back in office after a well-deserved break. It is a New Year, a new chapter, a new decade, but be that as it may be, our mission of promoting Environmental justice through sustainable and equitable utilisation […]

Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Violence in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector Action Points

STOP THE MACHETE! A stitch in time saves nine WE, the 45 citizens of the Republic of Zimbabwe drawn from mining impacted communities, civil society organizations, parliament of Zimbabwe, artisanal and small-scale miners, captains of industry, the media fraternity and government officials gathered at the Holiday Inn-Hotel in Harare on the 17th of January 2020 […]

ZELA Press Release-Stop the Machete!

MULTISTAKEHOLDER CONVENING ON VIOLENCE IN THE ARTISANAL & SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING SECTOR (17/01/2020) Stop the Machete! For immediate release Harare, 16/01/2020- The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) with support from the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) will tomorrow host a one-day multi-stakeholder conference to discuss the attention-grabbing spate of violence in the artisanal mining […]

Opening Remarks by KP Civil Society Coalition (2019)

Opening Remarks by KP Civil Society Coalition Kimberley Process, Plenary November 18, 2019 New Delhi, India Kimberley Process Chair, President of the World Diamond Council, Distinguished guests, Kimberley Process colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Introduction On behalf of the KP Civil Society Coalition, let me start by congratulating India for chairing and hosting this 2019 Plenary […]

Looking Back : The Zimbabwe Mining Revenue Transparency Initiative

By Mutuso Dhliwayo (Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association) Introduction Unlike in the past when government’s intentions to join the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) have not been matched with significant follow ups from stakeholders, this time around, it is a different story altogether. Since the renewed commitment to be part of EITI family was made in […]

High Court orders mine to cease operations

The High Court has ordered Gwanda-based mining concern, Imani Mine, to cease operations with immediate effect after failing to follow proper mining procedures. BY MTHANDAZO NYONI The order was issued by Justice Jester Helena Charewa on Wednesday after the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela), on behalf of Sithini Ndlovu and Rhodine Sibanda filed a court […]

Zela demands mining sector transparency

Chipo ChaumbaZimbabwe Environmental Law Association senior programmes officer, Nyaradzo Mutonhori, says it is high time civil society organisations take an action-oriented approach on the implementation of constitutional provisions which call for transparency in the mining sector. Speaking at a breakfast meeting to discuss pertinent challenges, opportunities, and progress on the management of state owned enterprises […]