Meet ZELA’s Environmental Child Rights Defenders
Zvaitwa Katsidzira is a dedicated development practitioner and passionate advocate for environmental child rights (ECR) and environmental human rights. As a youth coordinator at ZIDAWU, Zvaitwa empowers young people to become agents of change, raising awareness about environmental issues, advocating for policy change, and amplifying marginalized voices. Collaborating with the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Zvaitwa works to protect and respect the rights of young people, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. Through concrete actions, Zvaitwa has led campaigns to clean up water sources, planted trees, and implemented sustainable agricultural practices in Arda Transau and Marange areas. As an ECR defender, Zvaitwa has researched and documented child rights issues, highlighting the impact of environmental degradation on children’s health, education, and well-being. Zvaitwa’s advocacy work holds governments and corporations accountable, ensuring children’s rights are protected and upheld. Zvaitwa’s commitment to environmental justice extends globally, participating in international conferences and forums to share expertise and advocate for stronger environmental policies and sustainable development. Guided by principles of justice, equity, and sustainability, Zvaitwa believes that together, we can create a world where all children thrive in a healthy and safe environment.
Whitney Chinowawa is devoted in working with children, women and youth. As an environmental monitor in ZIDAWU, she seeks to empower mining communities especially the youths. Her interests in serving has been derived from way back where she was part of a LEO club which comprised of devoted young people ready for action for a sustainable future which made her gain recognition and was made to be a junior councilor in the year 2017. Competence is what she strives for as she does not hesitate to learn different skills. She also can appreciate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in various activities in the society. Basic Life skills, Leadership and Entrepreneurship skills under SNV Netherlands Development Volunteers whom she has also worked as youth volunteer and facilitated in some of the programmes. She has also participated in a course of Confronting and Countering Gender Based Violence under Amnesty International and went for a youth school on constitutionalism. Evidence has been shown as she has been involved in online discussions hosting hot debates on issues affecting mining communities and posting some of her motivational videos and articles.Before joining ZIDAWU, she has been involved in contributing to a successful street and community donation campaign for infants who are affected financially by disabilities under Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe Trust. Whitney has gained woman empowerment knowledge from Woman Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ)and young woman in business where she was taught on the use of technology to advance business skills. Hence advanced and chosen to be an environmental child rights defender under ZELA Whitney Chinowawa believes in hard work commitment and determination guided by confidentiality, informed consent, justice and sustainability.
Vivian Sithole is a dedicated and passionate member of the Hotsprings Environmental Youth Forum, with over two years of experience advocating for environmental child rights. As a committed youth forum member and community monitor, Vivian has played a crucial role in protecting and promoting the rights of children to a safe and healthy environment. Through her tireless efforts, she has successfully helped resolve numerous child rights violations, ensuring that young individuals have access to clean air, water, and land. Vivian’s unwavering commitment to environmental child rights has made a significant impact in her community, inspiring others to join her in the fight for a sustainable future. Her dedication and passion continue to drive positive change, creating a better world for generations to come.
Tadiwanashe Nyakunu, a devoted Environmental Child Rights monitor, has been a driving force at ZIDAWU Youth Hub for four years. Her unwavering passion led her and her peers to establish the Arda Transau ECR club, which gained recognition from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA). Tadiwa’s creativity shines through her love of writing and reciting poems at public events. She has made a tangible impact by planting trees annually and in schools, inspiring others to combat climate change. As a dedicated Environmental Child Rights Defender, Tadiwa tirelessly monitors and addresses violations, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for children to flourish. Her commitment has made a significant difference in the community, inspiring others to follow her lead. Tadiwa’s ultimate wish is to see more young people engaged in climate justice issues, creating a brighter future for all. Her dedication and enthusiasm are a beacon of hope for a sustainable tomorrow.
Ruvarashe Nyanhanda is a dedicated and passionate member of the Hotsprings Environmental Youth Forum, serving for over a year. As a committed advocate for children’s rights, she has successfully addressed violations and worked tirelessly to promote and protect the rights of young individuals. As a Child Right Defender, Ruvarashe is driven by her desire to create a safe and empowering environment for children to thrive. Through her work with the youth forum, she has demonstrated leadership and dedication, inspiring others to join her in the fight for children’s rights. With her unwavering commitment and compassion, Ruvarashe continues to make a positive impact in her community, ensuring that every child can reach their full potential.
Rashiwe Feremba is a dedicated and passionate member of ZIDAWU Trust, advocating for environmental child rights (ECR) and environmental human rights. As a youth and community monitor, Rashiwe empowers young people to become agents of change, raising awareness about environmental issues and advocating for policy change. Rashiwe works to protect and respect the rights of young people, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. Through concrete actions, Rashiwe has led campaigns to clean up water sources, planted trees, and implemented sustainable agricultural practices in Arda Transau. As an aspiring ECR defender, Rashiwe has researched and documented child rights issues, highlighting the impact of environmental degradation on children’s health, education, and well-being.
Proud Nyakuni is a dedicated Labour and Environmental Lawyer with bias to defending women and Children Environmental Rights, having 9 years of experience as a legal officer for Trade Unions. Her work with ZIDAWU Trust, a quasi-labour union and Civil Society Organisation, has expanded her expertise to include Environmental law, Family law, Climate Justice, and Gender Equity issues.
As an Environmental Human Rights Defender, Proud has successfully:
• Fostered engagement between mining companies and communitiesProud has also drafted policies and constitutions for various organizations, including the Safeguarding Policy for ZIDAWU Trust and the Constitution for Chiadzwa Community Goat Project.
• Proud has published articles on Natural Resource Governance, Environmental, Women, and Youth issues and made presentations. Some of her publications Conferences and notable presentations include:
– Proud Nyakuni and Cosmas Sunguro, Artisanal Diamond Mining a Threat to education in Chiadzwa, 31/07/2023, https://proudnyakuni.wordpress.com/2023/07/31/artisanal-diamond-mininga-threat-to-education-in-chiadzwa/
– Proud Nyakuni and Cosmas Sunguro, Keeping an eagle eye on the mining Sector, 22/07/2022, https://wp.me/p8EhiU-47
– Proud Nyakuni, “Existence of Minerals, a Nightmare for Girl Child, an analysis of miseries faced by a girl child in Zimbabwe, 06/07/2022,
– Proud Z Nyakuni,” Presentation on Young Miners and Legal Framework Advocacy” at Young Miners Foundation, Minerals Export,
– Trade and Value Addition (METVA) Conference, 12 April 2021 mining.zimbabwe.com, www.sundaynews.co.zw 11/04/2021
– Proud Nyakuni,”Writing the Wrongs in Mineral Resources Governance, A story for Competition funded By Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, January 2021, including “Keeping an eagle eye on the mining Sector” and “Existence of Minerals, a Nightmare for Girl Child”.
Natally Gombakomba a Young Environmental Advocate, Community Engagement Specialist, and Chairperson of Chaidzwa Youth Network. Passionate and dedicated young environmental advocate with a focus on community engagement, youth empowerment, and promoting environmental education. Natally has Experience in organizing and leading community clean-up campaigns, engaging school children, and promoting environmental awareness. She is actively involved in fostering partnerships with schools and community organizations to drive impactful environmental initiatives and hands-on learning experiences for youth.
Loina Nyabadza is a dedicated environmental child rights activist and safeguarding officer at Chiadzwa Youth Network. Loinah is a passionate advocate for the rights of children in Marange, where artisanal mining has led to a violation of their right to education. Loinah has successfully engaged with stakeholders, including the community, schools, and the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), to address this critical issue. Through her advocacy, Loinah has highlighted the hazardous conditions faced by children involved in artisanal mining, known as “mutsvare,” and the compromised right to education due to open pits surrounding schools. Her efforts have led to a significant commitment from ZCDC to plant trees and close open pits, mitigating the hazards. Loinah’s work emphasizes the importance of collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to ensure the protection of children’s rights. As an Environmental Child Rights Defender, Loinah continues to monitor and address violations, promoting a safe and healthy environment for children to thrive. Her tireless efforts have made a positive impact in the community, and her dedication to environmental child rights is an inspiration to many.
Story written by Loinah- https://zela.org/chiadzwa-youth-network-sharing-the-work-of-the-network-in-the-realization-of-environmental-child-rights/
Kieth Marera is a dedicated community monitor and human rights defender from Hotsprings, Chimanimani District. Since 2018, he has passionately defended children’s rights, particularly in the context of environmental child rights. Trained by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Keith has worked tirelessly to protect vulnerable children from abuse, exploitation, and environmental harm. As the youth chairperson of the Hotsprings Environmental Champion Youth Forum, Keith has led successful campaigns to address child labor, child abuse, and environmental degradation. He has empowered students to speak out for their rights and made significant strides in promoting environmental child rights through education and awareness campaigns. Keith’s efforts have yielded notable successes, including the reduction of child labor, the re-enrollment of impregnated girls in school, and the establishment of environmental clubs and gardens in local schools. He has also advocated for improved transportation for students and worked with mining companies to ensure they understand and respect environmental child rights. Through his unwavering dedication, Keith has made a lasting impact in his community, creating a safer and more sustainable environment for children to thrive.
Gladys Mavusa is a dedicated Human Rights Defender and activist who has made a significant impact in her community. In 2017, she founded the Marange Woman Forum, a vital organization that amplifies the voices of women and young children. As a women’s coordinator and social advisor for the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust, Gladys has been instrumental in advocating for the rights of marginalized groups. Her tireless efforts were recognized with the prestigious Giraffe Hero award for her unwavering commitment to representing women and young children. Gladys’ leadership and determination were evident in her successful organization of a community protest mines in Tinoengana village, where poor service delivery and violations of children’s rights had been ignored. Her advocacy led to the drilling of a borehole in the village, significantly improving the lives of community members. As a mother herself, Gladys is deeply passionate about ensuring the well-being and protection of all children. Her selflessness, courage, and dedication to human rights make her a role model and inspiration to many.
Cosmas Sunguro is a dedicated trade unionist and community development activist with over a decade of experience advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. As a coordinator for Labour and Environment programming at ZIDAWU TRUST, he promotes a balance between mining companies’ interests and the labour, environmental, and human rights of workers and mining communities. A fearless defender of human rights, Cosmas has been arrested multiple times for standing up against the abuse of diamond mining communities and workers. Cosmas has made a significant impact in promoting Environmental Child Rights, establishing child-friendly spaces, advocating for the removal of children from hazardous mining activities, and empowering children to speak out against environmental injustices. His work has improved the lives of countless children and communities, earning him recognition as a champion of Environmental Child Rights. As a published writer and researcher, Cosmas has authored several articles on human rights and environmental justice in the extractive sector in Zimbabwe. His articles have highlighted critical issues, including cholera outbreaks, threats to effective service delivery, and the impact of artisanal mining on schools. Cosmas’ tireless efforts have made a lasting impact, and his continued advocacy is crucial for promoting environmental child rights and protecting marginalized communities. Additionally, Cosmas serves as the Vice Chairperson of Publish What You Pay (Zimbabwe Chapter), a global coalition promoting transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. He has been able to voice concerns over the involvement of children in mining value chain. Cosmas has written (and sometimes co-authored some of the following articles with their links:
– https://zidawumining.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/arda-transau-and-odzi-hit-by-cholera-outbreak/
– https://zidawumining.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/tempers-flares-as-parents-expressed-mixed-feelings-over-school-development/
– https://zidawumining.wordpress.com/2023/08/20/influx-of-artisanal-miners-a-threat-to-effective-service-delivery-in-health/
– https://zidawumining.wordpress.com/2023/07/30/artisanal-diamond-mining-becoming-a-threat-to-schools-in-chiadzwa/
– https://zidawumining.wordpress.com/2023/06/27/tap-water-finally-trickles-in-arda-transau/
Brenda Marange is a dedicated Environmental Community Monitor in Marange with a proven track record in organizing and leading community clean-up campaigns, engaging school children, and promoting environmental awareness. She is skilled in developing and implementing environmental education initiatives, including the formulation of environmental clubs and successful projects involving school children in nurseries. Brenda is actively involved in fostering partnerships with schools and community organizations to drive impactful environmental initiatives and hands-on learning experiences for youth. Tailoring environmental advocacy efforts to address the specific environmental challenges in Marange, with a focus on empowering youth to become environmental ambassadors and change-makers, while promoting hands-on environmental education through school-based initiatives.
Berlyn Muza is an ambitious Environmental child rights defender from Hotsprings who is committed in defending the rights of children in areas affected by mining activities in Hotsprings. He is a member of Hotsprings Environmental Champions Youths Forum which is an organisation dedicated to defending Environmental child rights. He helped form E-clubs at Nenohwe Primary School and Hotsprings Secondary School. He helped plant trees at Nenohwe Primary and Hotsprings Secondary School to reverse land degradation in the area. He helped in successfully planting 22 indigenous trees at Hotsprings Secondary and carrying out awareness campaigns in ward 5. He is looking forward to training more children at schools and in the community.
Josphat Makaza is a journalist-turned-human rights defender and environmental child rights activist. He is a professional writer and accredited District Environmental Community Monitor with the Environmental Management Agency. Currently, he serves as the Project Coordinator for Chiadzwa Community Development Trust and founded the Chiadzwa Youth Network in 2021, advocating for youth participation in natural resource management and protection. His work focuses on promoting young people’s freedom, environmental awareness, and human rights through social media, stakeholder engagement, community-led research, and environmental monitoring. He has published numerous articles on natural resource governance, human rights, environmental monitoring, and youth issues.
Shared are Published articles on Natural Resource Governance, Human Rights, Environmental Monitoring and Youth issues:
– https://zela.org/zela-encourages-communities-to-develop-and-participate-in-leap-processes/
– https://zela.org/zela-making-strides-towards-youth-empowerment/
– https://zela.org/cabinet-audit-into-responsible-mining-welcome/
– https://communitymonitors.net/2020/10/zcdc-must-respect-human-rights/
– https://communitymonitors.net/2018/09/zcdc-betrayed-community/
– https://www.manicapost.co.zw/headman-villagers-invade-mine/
– https://www.bench-marks.org.za/is-some-mining-more-illegal-than-others/
– https://www.newzimbabwe.com/chiadzwa-diamond-how-the-chain-plunder-keeps-lengthening/
– https://zela.org/ward-24-marange-progress-report/
– https://zela.org/should-zimbabwean-mining-companies-join-the-initiative-for-responsible-mining-assurance-irma-community-based-organisations-ask/
– https://zela.org/zela-making-strides-towards-youth-empowerment/
