By Batanai Mutasa

Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) has described the inaugural European Union (EU) – Zimbabwe Business Forum, scheduled for May 20–22, 2025, as a pivotal opportunity to advance responsible investments in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.

Organized by the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, EU Member States, and local partners including the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), ZimTrade, and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), the three-day forum aims to strengthen economic ties by boosting trade, de-risking investments, and fostering public-private dialogue. 

ZELA will leverage the event to highlight its two-decade legacy of promoting responsible mining practices and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance, emphasizing the need for community-centric business models. Thus, the organization will showcase various research products, toolkits, and its contributions to Zimbabwe’s government-led Responsible Mining Audits launched in 2023 and 2024 — a system now integral to enforcing legal, environmental, and social compliance in mining operations. 

“This forum offers a vital platform to demonstrate how responsible sourcing, ESG adherence, and community engagement can unlock sustainable investments under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative,” said ZELA Deputy Director Shamiso Mtisi.

Steadfast in promoting communities’ benefit from natural resources, ZELA has a proven track record of bridging policymakers, investors, and communities, co-hosting high-profile events such as the Chamber of Mines’ 2023 and 2024 Annual Conferences, where EU officials detailed market access requirements. Beyond large-scale mining, ZELA has spearheaded efforts to formalize Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, developing a Responsible Sourcing Toolkit to enhance safety, traceability, and compliance with EU due diligence regulations in gold supply chains.   

ZELA’s expertise extends to global certifications, having facilitated community involvement in audits that enabled Anglo American’s Unki Mine to achieve IRMA 75 certification under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). On 6 and 7 May 2025, the organization was at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Paris and participated in a conversation hosted by Publish What You Pay and IRMA, looking at the African Regional Integration and the Future of Transition Mineral Diplomacy. In addition, ZELA participated in the just ended Kimberely Process 2025 Intersessional meeting in Dubai which was held under the ‘Year of Best Practice’ agenda, set to modernise, reform, and strengthen the KP.  This experience positions ZELA to assist local miner’s efforts to meet international benchmarks. 

“Integrating ESG principles is key to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) that benefits all stakeholders long-term. Zimbabwe’s mining sector can thrive globally by adopting these practices, and we’re here to guide that transition,” Mtisi explained.

As the forum approaches, ZELA’s participation underscores civil society’s role in ensuring EU investments drive equitable growth. By advocating robust ESG frameworks, responsible sourcing, and community inclusion, the organization aims to translate economic partnerships into sustainable development for Zimbabwe.