The right to a safe, clean and healthy environment

environment.
This is a key component that averts healthy risks to the public. A recurrence of the 2007/8 situation where at least 4 200 lives were lost due to a cholera outbreak due to poor sewerage management would be unbearable. It is against this background that people should understand their environment as well as its related rights.

Why is the environment important to us?
The term “environment” is used to refer to our surroundings: land, water, atmosphere/air, minerals, plant and animal life. The environment therefore plays a tremendous role on the well being of social communities and hence affects us all.

A healthy life that is supported by clean air and water, safe living areas with good sanitary conditions, sufficient and healthy foods is everyone’s right. When the environment becomes degraded and polluted, it affects us all either in the short or long run regardless of our social and economic status.

We all strive for an improved quality of life, enhanced social welfare, significant reduction of environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Our children are also entitled to better opportunities and healthy and happy lives. As such, the need for economic development, social justice and a healthy, sustainable environment cannot be taken for granted.

Environmental Rights
Environmental rights like human rights are an entitlement of every human being irrespective of class, religion, level of education, race or creed. It is there important and imperative for people to know and be aware of their environmental rights. Such knowledge enables individuals and communities to speak out and add their voices to environmental justice whenever their rights are infringed.

Environmental Management Act (Chap 20:27) and Environmental Rights
In Zimbabwe, environmental rights are legally recognised through the Environmental Management Act (Chap 20:27). The Act clearly states that every person should have a right to:

A clean environment that is not harmful to health

Access to environmental information

Protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations and participate in the implementation of the promulgation of reasonable legislative, policy and other measures that:

1. Prevent pollution and environmental degradation

2. Secure ecologically sustainable management and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic social development.
From the above, it is clear that the responsibility to the full realisation of environmental rights requires participation and involvement of all people in ensuring that the environment is well protected and utilised for people’s benefit.

We all have an obligation to ensure the environment is protected for the benefit of the present and future generations. Every person, company, institution and local authority has a responsibility to ensure environmental rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. The realisation of environmental rights should not be viewed in isolation of other rights. The recognition and fulfillment of environmental rights will enable realisation and fulfillment of other rights such as right to life and peaceful co-existence among others.

When environmental rights are violated and not respected communities should be able to demand redress and compensation from the violators.

Examples of environmental rights infringement

Exposing people to the effects of air pollution from mining and industrial emissions and fugitive dust, vehicle emission and burning of oils and tyres.

Illegal discharge of sewage as well as industrial effluent into the environment.

Non timeous repair of burst sewers.

Improper disposal of waste (domestic, clinical, hazardous and electronic).

Deforestation by outsiders for commercial purposes.

Sand abstraction from undesignated sites.

How to enforce environmental rights

Demand that proper care of the environment is taken.

Refuse the dumping of waste at undesignated sites in your area.

Report all activities that have an environmental risk.

Lodge a complaint with the nearest EMA office and/or with police.

Environmental rights should be demanded by the affected persons and all responsible duty-bearers should do whatever is possible to ensure the realisation and fulfillment of all environmental rights. The Environmental Management Agency remains dedicated to the statutory call to create a safe and a health environment for all of us to enjoy equitable environmental justice. EMA endeavours to assist vulnerable communities to claim their environmental rights through environmental educational awareness campaigns.

The Agency firmly believes in the centrality and essentiality of an environmentally conscious society in promoting sustainable development.
In all it’s our operations EMA works with and through community structures such as traditional leaders, ward and village assemblies.

Throughout the country EMA has established environmental committees, subcommittees and natural resources monitors to assist in the dissemination of environmental information which is essential for members of the public to become aware of their environmental rights. People should know that it is their right to:

Demand clean and safe water from responsible authorities.

Demand regular and efficient waste collection and its proper disposal.

Demand a pollution free environment devoid of unsustainable noise and air pollution levels.

Demand access to environmental information and cause responsible authorities/persons to take appropriate actions to ensure and guarantee the full realisation of their environmental rights.

Demand full disclosure of environmental implications of developmental projects to their social setting and livelihood.

Call for legal and institutional framework that protects their environmental interest and safety.

Participate in local environmental action planning and in formulation of environmental by laws for their areas

Participate in environmental activities that promote sustainable development so that we make Zimbabwe an environmentally sound country. Have the knowledge and power to demand your environmental rights

For feedback and comments e-mail: [email protected] or SMS 0773 404 779, 0772 951 635