HARARE, Zimbabwe – Building on more than two decades of environmental advocacy, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) has officially launched a new initiative, the “Promoting Equitable and Sustainable Natural Resources Management (ProNRM) project which is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Set to run until December 2028, the ProNRM project marks a strategic scaling-up of ZELO’s previous work with Sida, which from 2021 to 2025 successfully strengthened community-level governance for food security and climate resilience in Gutu, Gwanda, and Binga districts. This new phase aims to broaden its impact, strengthening sustainable and equitable natural resources management in Zimbabwe with particular focus on Bikita, Chiredzi, Gutu , Gwanda, and Zvishavane districts. The project also includes the promotion of responsible mining as a priority target.
“The sustainable management of land, forestry, water, and wildlife is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s own long-term prosperity and food security,” said Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Per Lindgärde in his remarks. “By working to improve this management in districts such as Chiredzi district and Bikita district, this project tackles the root causes of vulnerability and supports a path toward sustainable development.”
“The strategic scope of ProNRM is what makes it particularly compelling. By operating at local, national, and even regional levels, this project acknowledges that change must be holistic. It recognises that for advocacy to be meaningful, a community in Bikita must have a voice in the decisions that affect their land and water. This holistic approach is a hallmark of effective and sustainable development,” he added.
The project outlines three key objectives to be achieved by December 2028:
- To Promote responsible mining, trade, and investment practices that respect environmental, economic, social, and cultural rights (EESCRs), ensuring benefits for marginalised communities, citizens of Zimbabwe, and other stakeholders.
- To Improve sustainable management of land and natural resources (forestry, water, and wildlife) for the benefit of marginalised communities in Chiredzi and Bikita districts, and other stakeholders.
- To Advocate for climate justice and a just transition in Gutu and Gwanda districts and beyond, for the benefit of marginalised communities and stakeholders.
“The ProNRM project is our collective commitment to aim higher and reach further. It is anchored in the principle that natural resources must benefit all people, and it will continue to champion the voices of communities, with a deliberate focus on empowering women and the girl child,” said ZELO Deputy Director Shamiso Mtisi in his welcome remarks.
The official inception and launch were held to collect stakeholder feedback on the project plan, strengthen buy-in at all levels, and facilitate unified stakeholder understanding of implementation strategies and collaboration frameworks.
In attendance were representatives from communities, the Embassy of Sweden to Zimbabwe, community based organisations (CBOs), Rural District Councils, government ministries, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), Plan International Zimbabwe, among others.
The launch of ProNRM signals a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s journey toward balancing economic development, particularly in the extractive industries, with the imperative of environmental protection and equitable community benefits.