ZELA calls on journalists to scrutinise mining firms’ reports for environmental governance

Nqobile Bhebhe in Kwekwe

Journalists must be equipped with analytical skills of scrutinising mining firms’ reports with a special focus on environmental sustainability governance issues.

This came up during a responsible mining workshop for media practitioners in Kwekwe organised by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA).

Addressing journalists, ZELA Economic Governance Officer and Urban Environment programme lead, Mr Tafara Chiremba said journalists should delve deep into company reports for the benefit of the society they operate in.

“The issue of Environmental Sustainability governance is now very critical in the mining and other sectors.

“As journalists, there is need to be equipped with Global Reporting Initiative skills. Companies now make reports using GRI and to come up with effective reports you must be well trained,” he said.

Mr Chiremba urged journalists to enroll in GRI courses.

Sustainability and ESG issues are rapidly becoming the standard for various global operations.

This concept is closely tied to the pillars of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to enhance the approach to environmental, social, and governance matters in institutions worldwide.

Many purchasers now factor in environmental, governance, and social aspects when determining product pricing.

This is prompting businesses, Zimbabwe included to integrate sustainability matters into their operations.

Companies are facing growing demands to demonstrate a coherent sustainability strategy that is seamlessly integrated into their business model and effectively implemented.

Additionally, they are increasingly required to demonstrate and be accountable for the impact of their operations on communities and the environment.

The GRI Standards enable any organisation to understand and report on their impacts on the economy, environment and people in a comparable and credible way, thereby increasing transparency on their contribution to sustainable development.

In addition to companies, the standards are highly relevant to many stakeholders including investors, policymakers, capital markets, and civil society