Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) has launched a new initiative dubbed Promoting Equitable and Sustainable Natural Resources Management (ProNRM) to promote responsible mining, trade and investment practices that respect environmental, economic, social and cultural rights (EESCRs).
The project supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), will ensure benefits accrue to marginalised communities, citizens of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders.
ZELO said the project would run until December 2028, marking 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,” said the organisation.
Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Per Lindgärde said sustainable management of land, forestry, water and wildlife was a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s own long-term prosperity and food security.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
ZELO deputy director Mr Shamiso Mtisi said the ProNRM project was their 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,” he said.
The project outlines key objectives to be achieved by December 2028 which include improving sustainable management of land and natural resources (forestry, water, and wildlife) for the benefit of marginalised communities in Chiredzi and Bikita districts and other key stakeholders.
The official inception and launch events 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.
The event was attended by representatives from the Embassy of Sweden to Zimbabwe, community based organisations, Rural District Councils, Government ministries, Parliament of Zimbabwe, Environmental Management Agency, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and Plan International Zimbabwe, among others.
The launch of ProNRM signals a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s journey towards balanced economic development, particularly in the extractive industries, with the imperatives of environmental protection and equitable community benefits.
ZELO (formerly known as the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association – ZELA), is a Zimbabwean public interest environmental law organisation whose rebranding reflects a strategic evolution to strengthen its impact by aligning with global non-profit trends and national legal requirements, enhancing operational flexibility, credibility, and the ability to serve communities in promoting environmental justice and sustainable natural resource management.
