Online Reporter
Trish Mukwazo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has emphasised the crucial role that traditional leaders play in environmental protection, management and sustainability.
This was highlighted during the Climate Green Economy and Environmental Sustainability Traditional Leaders’ Indaba, organised by the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (Wild) in Bulawayo on Friday .
A diverse group of stakeholders attended the event, including representatives from Government ministries, traditional leaders, youth and women’s groups, each contributing unique perspectives and strengths to the discussions.
EMA’s Environmental Planning and Monitoring Officer, Ms Orpah Ruzawe, noted that traditional leadership is vital in identifying both environmental challenges and appropriate solutions.
She stated that documenting environmental issues acts as a tool for tracking service delivery and enhances environmental stewardship within communities.
“This approach reduces conflicts between local authorities and fosters partnerships, among stakeholders,” she said.
Ms Ruzawe added that the Traditional Leaders Act empowers chiefs and headmen to play a significant role in environmental initiatives. She highlighted that participation in Local Environmental Action Planning (Leap) can yield substantial results.
During her presentation, she reiterated that traditional leaders are indispensable to environmental protection and management.
“We cannot succeed without their involvement, as they implement policies at the community level with our support. Their voice matters, and collaboration is key to winning the fight for environmental conservation,” she said.
EMA, a statutory board under the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, focuses on environmental management and protection through stakeholder engagement.
Chief Mtshane Khumalo, president of the Chiefs’ Council of Zimbabwe, also spoke at the event, underscoring the essential role traditional leaders play in societies worldwide.
He said they serve as custodians of tradition, culture and community values, shaping the moral fabric of their communities and fostering unity.
Chief Khumalo pointed out that traditional leaders bridge the gap between past and present, upholding cultural practices and ensuring generational continuity.
“Their roles extend beyond ceremony, contributing actively to community governance and development. With historical roots pre-dating modern governance, traditional leaders have shaped national identity, fostered unity and safeguarded cultural heritage,” he said.
He added that traditional leaders play a critical role in preserving cultural identity.
“They oversee ceremonies, festivals, and rituals that celebrate heritage and instil pride in younger generations. By passing down oral history, they ensure the preservation of cultural traditions.
“Additionally, traditional leaders often serve as mediators and conflict resolvers, particularly in communities with limited access to formal legal systems,” he said.
However, Chief Khumalo stressed that traditional leaders face numerous challenges in the modern era, including the erosion of their authority, urbanisation and exposure to global cultures, all of which can dilute traditional values and make it harder for them to assert influence.
During a panel discussion on strengthening indigenous leadership for inclusive climate adaptation, youth climate justice advocate Mercy Mokwane said women play a vital role in climate adaptation but face obstacles in decision-making.
“We are eager to implement environmental initiatives, but barriers exist. Due to their close interaction with nature, women are often most affected by environmental changes, yet they are excluded from community-level decision-making on natural resources, limiting their contributions,” she said.
