Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe,Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe has lost tens of millions of United States dollars over the years due to unregulated trade in the carbon market, a situation the Government is now moving swiftly to correct through new laws and the creation of a national registry, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu has said.
Speaking during the Carbon Markets Indaba for Rural Local Authorities in Bulawayo, Dr Ndlovu said the country is now required to legally authorise the transfer of carbon credits to other nations for use in meeting their climate change commitments or other mitigation purposes.
“The country is required to legally authorise the transfer of carbon credits to another country for use in meeting that country’s climate change commitments or other mitigation purposes.
“This requires the appropriate legal instrument. Thus, in May 2025, my Ministry gazetted Statutory Instrument 48 of 2025 referred to as the Carbon Trading (General) Regulations of 2025 and is currently working towards the promulgation of the Climate Change Management Bill, draft of which has already been approved by Cabinet,” said Minister Ndlovu.
The new carbon market is closely tied to the achievement of the country’s international climate commitments as outlined in the Nationally Determined Contribution submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
She explained that in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, all countries are mandated to establish National Registries for tracking carbon credits generated within their borders in a transparent and accountable manner.
For in instance, she said Zimbabwe has established the Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Digital Application Platform, the Zimbabwe Carbon Registry and Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority.
“Previous transactions of carbon credits have not been recorded by the Government because there was no mechanism to do so.
“It is estimated that the Government, Local Authorities and communities have over the years lost tens of millions of United States Dollars as a result of the absence of requisite regulations and the registry to monitor carbon market activities,” she said.
The loopholes allowed private deals to be struck without Government oversight, depriving local authorities and communities of much-needed revenue from projects such as forest conservation and renewable energy initiatives.
In a bid to bring order and transparency to the sector, President Mnangagwa in May 2025 launched the Zimbabwe Carbon Registry, a milestone in formalising the domestic carbon market.
The registry is now the official platform where carbon project developers must submit their projects for approval under Statutory Instrument 48 of 2025.
It will record all transactions, enabling the Government to monitor flows, prevent illicit dealings, and ensure that benefits from carbon trading are shared equitably.
Officials say the new system will also help Zimbabwe position itself competitively in the global carbon market while safeguarding national interests.
Carbon credits are tradable permits allowing the holder to emit a defined amount of greenhouse gases, with each credit equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide have emerged as a critical tool in climate-positive investment.
Countries, companies and organisations can trade these credits to offset emissions, fuelling a growing international market for sustainable projects.
