Online Reporter
Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE is stepping up efforts to shield state enterprises and parastatals from the devastating impacts of climate change through the development of climate change resilience guidelines.
Senior Government officials and key stakeholders yesterday gathered in Harare to craft a framework that will integrate climate adaptation and sustainability into the country’s major economic sectors.
Speaking at the Development of Climate Change Resilience Guidelines for State Enterprises and Parastatals workshop, deputy chief secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Zvinechimwe Churu said Government was commited to climate resilience.
Mr Churu said state enterprises have a crucial role in the country’s sustainable development strategy.
“This workshop demonstrates the Government’s dedication to inclusive engagement and policy development,” he said.
“Together, we can foster a sustainable development agenda focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resilience strategies.”
Zimbabwe has faced worsening climate-related disasters including prolonged droughts and severe flooding, which have severely impacted agriculture, water supply, infrastructure and energy production.
Recognising the risks, the Government has aligned its policies with international climate agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.
Dr Washington Zhakata, director of the Climate Change Management in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife said it was important to secure climate finance to support adaptation initiatives.
“This meeting comes at a critical time as Zimbabwe recently launched its National Climate Change Adaptation Plan. We aim to position ourselves strategically to unlock much-needed global climate financing,” he said.
Dr Zhakata said climate change affects multiple sectors from agriculture and water resources to infrastructure, health and biodiversity, with vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the challenges.
State enterprises, which form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, are at the centre of the Government’s climate resilience strategy.
Many operate in carbon-intensive sectors such as energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture and transport making them both contributors to and victims of climate change.
Mr Onesimo Musi, executive director of the State Enterprises Restructuring Agency (Sera) said there was need for state enterprises to embrace climate action.
“State enterprises have significant economic influence and the capacity to adopt sustainable practices,” he said.
“They are a powerful tool for the Government to drive key climate reforms that will help Zimbabwe meet its adaptation and mitigation targets.”
The workshop, a collaboration between the Office of the President and Cabinet, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and SERA, sought to finalise guidelines that will equip state enterprises with the tools to implement climate response measures, monitor environmental performance and access international climate finance.
With Zimbabwe advancing its National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) objectives, Government officials said sustainability was no longer an option but an economic imperative.
The Climate Change Resilience Guidelines will serve as a roadmap for state enterprises to adapt, ensuring economic stability while reducing environmental risks in an increasingly volatile climate.
