Insights from PWYP Zimbabwe

Introduction

The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Global Assembly 2025, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, under the theme “Charting Our Course: Uniting for a Just Energy Transition,” was a pivotal gathering for the movement. At the assembly, participants set priorities and focus for the next five years through the adoption of the PWYP Strategy at a time when addressing challenges in natural resource governance is more critical than ever for Zimbabwe and the SADC region. Amid the global shift towards decarbonisation and the energy transition, highlighted by the severe drought experienced in 2024, the region’s rich deposits of critical minerals, such as lithium in Zimbabwe, copper in Zambia, and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, present both remarkable opportunities and serious risks. This urgency is further underscored by recent policy moves by countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi, DRC, and Namibia to ban the export of raw minerals, compelling companies to engage in local value addition and beneficiation to maximize economic benefits. These challenges, coupled with our ongoing campaign on promoting equitable and responsible strategic partnerships in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, reinforce the need for a robust framework that ensures responsible and sustainable management of natural resources.

The PWYP Global Assembly was held under the following themes:

Justice in the Energy Transition: Participants emphasized the need for an equitable distribution of benefits and burdens as the world phases out fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy. The transition must not only drive environmental sustainability but also ensure that all stakeholders share in its benefits including producer countries and host communities. This can be achieved by fostering local value addition and beneficiation, which will create job opportunities and stimulate economic development; by establishing Community Development Agreements that ensure revenue sharing and direct investment in local infrastructure, education, and healthcare; and by facilitating technology transfer and access to information, thereby empowering communities to participate effectively in decision-making processes and in shaping policies that reflect their needs.

Central to this vision is the role of value addition and beneficiation. In Zimbabwe and across the SADC region, transforming raw mineral exports into higher-value products through local processing can significantly boost economic returns, create sustainable jobs, and foster industrial growth. While this approach supports community development by promoting revenue sharing and capacity building, it also faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited investment in modern processing facilities, and policy gaps that hinder effective implementation. Technical constraints, unreliable power and water supplies, and stiff competition from international players further complicate the full realization of value addition. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated policy reforms, strategic investments, and robust public–private partnerships to ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are both widespread and sustainable.

Equitable Mineral Governance: The assembly advocated for fair sharing of the advantages—and the risks—associated with mining activities, particularly for minerals essential for renewable energy, such as lithium, copper, and cobalt. This includes the call for robust frameworks that ensure mining revenues contribute to local development and environmental rehabilitation both at the national and local levels.

Empowerment of Communities and Civil Society: A central pillar of the discussions was the importance of safe and effective participation by communities and activists in decision-making processes related to natural resources and the energy transition. Ensuring that local voices are heard and respected is vital to building transparency and accountability.

The Critical Moment for Transparency Advocacy in Zimbabwe and SADC

In the context of SADC, the global rush for transition minerals presents significant challenges. While these resources are essential for advancing renewable energy technologies, their extraction is frequently marred by inadequate governance, opaque deals, and environmental destruction. Resource-rich countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo often face power imbalances where multinational corporations dominate mining activities—prioritizing profit over local rights and environmental sustainability.

This dynamic perpetuates existing inequalities, with wealth flowing out of these nations while local populations remain impoverished and vulnerable. Additionally, shrinking civic space and increasing attacks on Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) further erode public trust and human rights. As economies heavily reliant on resource extraction become more exposed to external shocks and global price fluctuations, the need for robust transparency and accountability measures has never been greater.

Opportunities for Programming in Zimbabwe and SADC

Building on the assembly’s discussions, several programming opportunities have emerged:

1. Community Stewardship Initiatives: Develop programs that empower local communities to assume ownership and oversight of extractive and renewable energy projects. For example, Zimbabwe could strengthen community-based models similar to communtuy share owenership schemes, enhancing transparency in mining revenue-sharing and providing training in environmental monitoring and local governance.
2. Equitable Mineral Governance & Environmental Justice: Launch initiatives that ensure the benefits of mineral extraction are shared fairly and that environmental standards are maintained throughout the mineral value chain. Programs could focus on establishing local advisory boards to oversee mining contracts, ensuring that revenues from critical minerals contribute to local development projects and environmental rehabilitation.
3. Safe Civic Space & Advocacy for Community Voices: Implement legal and digital literacy programs to empower communities and civil society groups to safely advocate for their rights. In Zimbabwe, this could include establishing legal aid hubs and digital platforms that allow communities to seek remedy and engage directly with policymakers—ensuring that marginalized voices are heard without fear of intimidation.
4. Regional Cooperation & Transformation of Global Relations: Facilitate multi-stakeholder platforms that bring together local communities, governments, and international partners to negotiate better terms for resource extraction and renewable energy investments. Regional dialogues building on existing SADC forums can push for changes in trade and fiscal policies that empower local communities and address global inequities.Regional value addition clusters are also crucial as well as leveraging opportunities presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement ( ACTFA).

These interconnected initiatives can drive transformative change by combining community capacity building, transparent governance, legal empowerment, and renewable energy access, thereby reshaping Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region’s development trajectories.

The Role of PWYP Zimbabwe in Driving Change

PWYP Zimbabwe plays a crucial role in this transformative period by:

• Amplifying Community Voices: Serving as a conduit between grassroots movements and national or regional platforms to ensure local concerns inform policy decisions.
• Facilitating Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues: Bringing together government entities, private sector representatives, and civil society to foster collaborative approaches to resource governance.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Actively tracking transparency initiatives and holding stakeholders accountable through evidence-based reporting and advocacy.

Looking Ahead: Developing a Strategic Pathway

As PWYP Zimbabwe formulates its strategy, it is imperative to align with the global PWYP vision while tailoring approaches to local contexts. Setting clear, measurable goals that address Zimbabwe’s unique challenges will help ensure that the energy transition benefits all segments of society and leads to sustainable, equitable natural resource governance.

In conclusion, the PWYP Global Assembly 2025 has illuminated a clear path forward—a call to action for all stakeholders to commit to transparency, accountability, and justice in natural resource governance. PWYP Zimbabwe is poised to lead this charge, driving meaningful change that empowers communities and fosters a just energy transition in Zimbabwe and across the SADC region.