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No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The current environmental law reform seeks to provide a legal framework for
environmental management. An economic analysis of the law reform is underway to examine
the impact of the environmental management law on the economy as well as the use of
economic instruments.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
From the outset, the Government of Zimbabwe recognized the need to develop and promote conservation practices and to encourage development on a sustainable basis. The first step in this direction was the development of the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) in 1987. The Strategy attempted to document the development and environmental pressures facing the nation and to set a course for building capacity to manage those issues. The strategy is extremely important in that it provides the first comprehensive examination of the environmental and natural resource base of Zimbabwe and pronounced the first declaration towards sustainability.
The National Conservation Strategy also helped pave the way for the Government of Zimbabwe to participate in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Zimbabwe participated fully in the process leading to the Rio summit and subscribes to the principles of AGENDA 21. Zimbabwe has therefore put into place policies to integrate environmental considerations into economic development planning.
In 1992, the Government completed a national environmental survey to identify and prioritize national environmental issues and economic, social, and environmental development objectives. The survey results were a precursor to a Conference on a National Response to the Rio Summit, held in November of 1992. The results of the National Response Conference were documented in an action-oriented report, which set out a course of action that government and non-governmental organizations should follow.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Policy of 1994 was developed as a tool to ensure
that development proposals are environmentally sound. The government is working on
translating the policy into law under the current environmental law reform process. It is
also working on sectoral guidelines for EIA, and has completed a review of environmental
standards with a view to developing new standards to facilitate environmental monitoring.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
National Decision-Making Structure |
| 1. National Sustainable Development Coordination Body: | |
| 2. National Sustainable Development Policy: | |
| 3. National Agenda 21/other strategy for SD | |
| 4. Local/Regional Agenda(s) 21: | YES |
| 5. Environmental Impact Assessment Law: | YES |
| 6. Major Groups involved in Sustainable Development Decision-Making: | YES |
National Instruments and Programmes |
| 1. Sustainable. Dev. or environmental education incorporated into school curricula: | YES |
| 2. Sustainable Development Indicators Program: | YES |
| 3. Ecolabel Regulations: | |
| 4. Recycle/Reuse Programs: | |
| 5. Green Accounting Program: | |
| 6. Access to Internet: | YES |
| 7. Access to World Wide Web: | YES |
| 8. National World Wide Web Site for Sustainable Development or State of the Environment: |
Policies, Programmes and Legislation |
| 1. Combatting poverty: | YES |
| 2. Changing consumption and production patterns: | |
| 3. Atmosphere: | YES |
| 4. Land Use Planning: | YES |
| 5. Forest and Deforestation: | YES |
| 6. Desertification and Drought: | YES |
| 7. Sustainable Mountain Development: | YES |
| 8. Sustainable Agriculture: | YES |
| 9. Biological Diversity: | YES |
| 10. Biotechnology: | |
| 11. Oceans and Coastal Areas: | |
| 12. Freshwater Management: | YES |
| 13. Toxic Chemicals: | YES |
| 14. Hazardous Wastes: | YES |
| 15. Solid Wastes: | YES |
| 16. Radioactive Wastes: | |
| 17. Energy: | |
| 18. Transport: | |
| 19. Sustainable Tourism: |
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Capacity building in planning and policy coordination is in progress in order to link
closely the environmental and economic planning functions. The CAMPFIRE programme aims at
building capacity for the sustainable management of natural resources at the community
level through a participatory approach.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
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WOMEN
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the advancement of women by signing the Rio
Declaration. Agenda 21 was superseded by the Global Platform for Action and the Beijing
Declaration (4th World Conference on Women, Beijing, China 4-15 September 1995) which
built upon and further developed the actions proposed in Agenda 21. Preparations for the
Beijing Conference meant that many of the actions outlined in Agenda 21 were explored,
reviewed, and discussed by a wide spectrum of women from the grassroots to the national
level and their priorities were identified. Zimbabwe's signature of the Beijing
Declaration also reaffirmed its commitment to the cause of women in Zimbabwe.
After Beijing, the Government of Zimbabwe set up a national mechanism in the Ministry
of National Affairs and Employment Creation to spearhead the incorporation of gender
issues in development. This national mechanism works through gender focal points in each
ministry, trained with funding from UNICEF.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Through the institutional framework the
government has drawn up draft strategy documents which cover the following critical areas:
environment; power and decision making; economy; institutional mechanisms; access to
health and related services; poverty; violence; armed conflict; human rights; the media,
and the girl child, as identified in the Beijing Plan of Action. These strategies were
compiled into the National Gender Policy which was drafted in October 1996. The vision of
the Gender Policy is to create a prosperous society that is free from gender-based
inequalities with respect to power, access to, control, and use of resources. The policy
seeks to provide a broad framework for the promotion of gender equality in the social,
political, legal, and economic spheres at all levels of society.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
A three year project is being implemented in three districts. The objective of this
project is to disseminate legal information to women. The laws are simplified and
translated into the vernacular before being distributed to local communities. The
provincial and district gender focal points are trained to explain these laws and they
train village community workers who, in turn, explain the laws to the community.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information available.
Information
Zimbabwe's signature of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1991, though it preceded UNCED, resulted in
activities to assess the status of women in all sectors. Zimbabwe's First Report on
CEDAW,
prepared in October 1995, examined the articles of the Convention and the country's
responses to them. By committing itself to taking action for the advancement of women in
various relevant conventions, Zimbabwe is obligated to monitor and evaluate progress in
the advancement of women. A draft report entitled Monitoring the Status of Women has been
prepared. The report identifies indicators and benchmarks for monitoring progress in each
sector.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
For information on Women Watch in different countries, click here:
For information on national plans of action in the follow-up to the Beijing Conference, click here:
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesWith the increasing incidence of child rape, the government has set up an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, to develop strategies to deal with this problem. Some initiatives to address this problem have been implemented, including the following:
-- establishment of victim friendly court hearings for minors;
-- introduction of "Fast Track" for cases needing immediate attention;
- - establishment of rehabilitation institutions for victims;
-- raining programmes for magistrates and police officers on how to handle child cases;
-- increase advocacy in human rights for children in order to curb abuses, gain support
and encourage more victims to come forward.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Dialogue between the government and youth has been carried out mainly through the National
Youth Council, which was created by the Zimbabwe Youth Act. The Council has coordinated
activities of NGOs working on youth issues. The term of operation of the council has
expired and the government is working on new legislation to create a more autonomous body
to coordinate youth activities. Before the Council was dissolved there were a total of 25
youth organizations affiliated with it.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
There are two major programmes under implementation, one of which is the 4H youth and
child development programme aimed at enhancing the leadership and economic skills of
children and youth. To date, 57 school youth projects have been funded under this
programme. It has also funded 170 4Hs in school youth projects countrywide. The second
programme is the "Training for Enterprise Projects", which involved the
upgrading of existing Youth Training Centres and shifted its emphasis from technical
training to business management skills. Instead of training job seekers, the centres now
train entrepreneurs. After completing their training graduates are offered loans to be
able to start their own businesses. Twelve training centres have been established
throughout the country.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
Unemployment in Zimbabwe is between 30 and 44 percent, and informal sector employment has
been declining since independence. The majority of the unemployed are youth between the
ages of 15 and 24, accounting for two thirds of the number of unemployed. One of the main
objectives of ESAP is to reduce unemployment, particularly among the youth. The
establishment of youth training centres is meant to equip them with the skills necessary
for employment. The focus of investment promotion has been to create more jobs and reduce
unemployment.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Youth, particularly school children, have been involved in conservation programmes such as gully reclamation and tree planting. Many community outreach programmes on tree growing and tree care have aimed at involving school children. Many schools have been involved in activities of the World Environment Day and the National Tree Planting Day and in various competitions on essay writing on environmental topics. The DEAP project aims to mobilize youth during the entire planning process.
Since independence, the enrollment of children into both secondary and primary schools
has increased dramatically. Enrollment in secondary schools has increased from 74,000, in
1980, to 670,600 in 1989.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
No information available.
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesIn both the pre- and post-Rio process the government has sought to involve NGOs as a key stakeholder in environmental planning and management. NGOs participate in various steering committees and forums which have been established to spearhead sustainable development. Although NGOs pledged to work in partnership with the government at the National Response Conference and vice-versa, the Rio+5 NGO and Private Sector Organizations Consultation meeting, held in Zimbabwe, identified the need to strengthen this partnership even further. Mechanisms to develop partnerships need to be drawn up. Examples of partnership between the government and NGOs are demonstrated in the climate change area.
NGOs have been partners of the government in producing reports on national inventories
required under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), and they
have assisted also in the development of methodologies for costing greenhouse gas
emissions (UNEP Greenhouse Gas Abatement Costing Studies: Zimbabwe Country Study October
1993).
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Apart from strengthening the role of NGOs through partnerships, the government has
developed legislation to facilitate the registration of NGOs and to remove taxation which
inhibited their participation in various programmes. The government has also strengthened
the role of NGOs through recognition of NGO coordinating bodies like NANGO and the
Environmental Forum of Zimbabwe. The Government has also signed financial agreements with
donors on behalf of NGOs.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
NGOs have participated in training programmes for government personnel. For example, a
capacity building project which involves the training of government personnel in 4
countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Kenya, to prepare national inventories
on greenhouse gas emissions. The project is being implemented by the Southern Centre for
Energy and Environment.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
Two national NGOs, ZERO and the Southern Centre for Energy and the Environment, participated in the regional network of African experts on climate change which was coordinated by ACTS in Nairobi. The project was supported by the Swedish government through the Stockholm Environmental Institute. The project sought to define Africa's responses to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to identify priorities for action to be taken as part of a preparatory process towards the first conference of parties to be held in Berlin. Some of the information generated by the project was used to lobby government positions on the convention.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Status
A survey was jointly conducted by the International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI) and the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) to
document the activities by local authorities around the world which had implemented Agenda
21. The results of the survey were presented at the Second UN Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul in June 1996. There was a very low response rate to
the questionnaire with only five out of 22 urban authorities in Zimbabwe responding. Of
these, 3 have a local Agenda 21 which constituted an environmental policy. None of the
councils that responded to the survey had held local consultations. Only one local
council, the Harare City Council, has tabled a motion before its council to adopt the
concept of Agenda 21. The motion was accepted.
Harare has also formally approached the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to get technical and financial assistance to facilitate the development of a Local Agenda 21. A person has been designated by the City Council to spearhead a programme for this purpose. Since there appeared to be little understanding of what Agenda 21 should contain, there were calls from local authorities for capacity building and environmental training.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives has started a programme to train local authorities in EIAs as part of capacity building for local Agenda 21. In Zimbabwe the project will only train personnel in Harare and Bulawayo city councils.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
WORKERS AND UNIONS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Trade Unions have fully participated in government efforts to implement and evaluate
Agenda 21. In December of 1992, these and other sector-specific groups took part in a
national response conference to Rio and assisted with the development of a Country Report.
Since then, representatives of industry and trade unions have participated in conferences,
meetings and working teams taking steps to implement Agenda 21.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Limited progress has been made with respect to the ratification of ILO Conventions. Zimbabwe is a party to nine of the ILO Conventions relating to labour and trade, including the following:
The Government is also considering entering into three other conventions: Forced Labour, Freedom of Association, and Discrimination. Ten tripartite formal and informal institutions have been established:
Formal
Informal
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
The Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) has weakened the role of workers and trade unions and strengthened the role of the employer through the deregulation of the labour market. Although collective bargaining was introduced as part of ESAP, the deregulation of the labour market has nonetheless weakened the position of workers.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Efforts have been made to increase workers' education and training. For example, a
Training and Resource Support Centre has been established to provide education and
training to the industrial community in both health and safety matters. However, with the
increased economic activity that Zimbabwe has experienced, efforts to reduce occupational
accidents and injuries have had limited success. The Labour Advisory Board was established
to address labour related issues but has limited jurisdiction over broader industrial
matters relating to economic and sustainable development.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No
information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesNo information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Government has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen the role of business in sustainable development. These initiatives include the following:
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
Industry in Zimbabwe has become proactive in environmental management and is involved in a
variety of initiatives such as the cleaner production centres. They are also supportive of
ISO 14001 which is a management system that includes environmental policies, auditing and
efficient management. An Environmental liaison forum has been created under the Chamber of
Zimbabwe Industries.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
The Zimbabwe Institute of Engineers (ZIE) took the initiative to discuss such matters as environmental legislation and decisions regarding major public works of significant environmental impact, with other environmental bodies with which it can form a strong coalition to be able to influence government.. It also became an advisory body on environmental issues related to engineering by disseminating information to all concerned. Seminars, public debates and environmental committees will also be organized for the same purpose. A code of practice will be developed to encourage transparency and environmental reporting in companies.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The Southern Center for Energy and Environment, a local NGO, has established a capacity
building pilot project for decision makers in industry concerning actions which can be
taken to abate or mitigate climate change impacts from industry. As part of the project,
the Southern Center for Energy and Environment conducts training workshops and seminars
which are attended by decision makers. The project is supported by CDG. The pilot phase of
the project is being implemented at the Willowvale industrial estate.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesNo information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
In late 1994 a multi-institutional Committee was established by the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism and the Institute of Environmental studies (IES) at the University
of Zimbabwe. This Committee comprises several government departments, the university,
SIRDC, the Research Council and the NGO community. Its role is to facilitate
multi-institutional, interdisciplinary and policy directed research by securing and
disbursing funds. It also set up a think-tank to prepare a National Strategy for
Environmental Research Projects.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
A coordination committee formed with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and
Tourism and three departments of the University of Zimbabwe has helped to improve capacity
at the University as well as to link training to the needs of the government. The MET will
also organize EIA training through the Institute of Environmental Studies at the
University of Zimbabwe, as a way of building capacity for future training programmes and
to ensure sustainability.
Information
The multi-institutional Committee also provides a forum for the exchange of information
and dissemination of research results. Through this Committee six projects were funded by
CIDA, an environmental seminar was conducted in late 1996 and three environmental prizes
were awarded to stimulate high quality environmental research.
Research and Technologies
The Tobacco Research Board has been working with the government on the phase out of
methyl bromide, while the Scientific Industrial Research and Development Centre
(SIRDC)
has been collaborating with the government on the issue of biotechnology.
Financing
The MET-University coordination committee provides financial support for research and purchasing reference materials.
Cooperation
The southern African Consortium for Interdisciplinary Research (SACAIR) was formed to ensure that countries in southern Africa benefit from regionally conceptualized and implemented research and training initiatives, since they share common problems in natural resources management. A survey of regional academic institutions involved in environmental work was conducted in 1996 ["Applied Interdisciplinary Research and Training on Natural Resources Management: A Situation Report For Southern Africa" (Mandondo 1996)]. This report is part of a series of initiatives to strengthen collaboration in training and research in the region and the capacity of institutions in six countries.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
FARMERS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The government set up a commission of inquiry into appropriate agricultural land tenure
systems in relation to sustainable resource management. The Report of the Commission Of
Inquiry Into Appropriate Agricultural Land Tenure Systems: Main Report (October 1994),
states that the effectiveness of any tenure system is measured by its ability to
facilitate high and sustainable levels of production as well as enhanced social cohesion.
The report makes several recommendations to the government, including that it establish a
decentralized system of administration designed to allow households at the local level to
be the decision makers regarding the use of their resources. The Commission also
recognizes the role of traditional institutions in local level development and recommends
that these, rather than the new institutions, be given authority over resource management
and control at the local level.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
There have been several initiatives to involve farmers in extension and to empower them to direct their own research and extension agendas. One such initiative is the training programme supported by ITDG to train both farmers and extension workers in a process called Training for Transformation. Training for Transformation is a participatory methodology which empowers farmers to question the appropriateness and delivery methods.
Another methodology being developed through a project funded by the Dutch Government is using the actor-oriented approach to identify and streamline the roles of various stakeholders in extension. The actor-oriented approach examines the actions of all institutions involved with farmers and identifies desirable outcomes from these interactions on the basis of farmers' opinions and priority needs. This project is a joint effort by the two departments of the University (IES and CASS) and two departments of the Ministry of Agriculture (AGRITEX and Research and Specialist Services) .
The Government has also developed credit support schemes for farmers, particularly
communal farmers to enable them to purchase inputs. Drought recovery schemes have also
been put into place to enable communal farmers to survive in drought years. The Government
supports research through the department of Research and Specialist Services to improve
farmers' productivity. Courses are also offered on various subjects for communal and
small-scale commercial farmers.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information available.
Information
No
information available.
Research and Technologies
Kuturaya "participatory farm experimentation" is a methodology developed by the
Department of Agricultural Technical Extension (AGRITEX) to involve farmers in experiments
to improve their own production. In Kuturaya, farmers and researchers work together to
develop appropriate technologies through experimentation. The methodology incorporates
experiences from the participatory technology development experiences of the AGRITEX-GTZ
conservation tillage project, implemented in the southern part of the country, the
Masvingo province, and the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) food security
project in the same province. The methodology empowers farmers to participate in farm
experiments and develop their own capacities.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
| Zimbabwe | All Countries | Home|
No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The National Response Conference encourages research that provides policy support to the
government through rigorous analysis of policy options for environmental management. It
also noted the need for science to provide research data on scientific assessments of
environmental phenomenon. In response to these needs, the Research Council drafted a
National Science and Technology Policy following consultations with relevant agencies. The
policy document has been circulated to relevant organizations for comments but is not yet
finalized.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
Following the Rio Summit, the government organized a national workshop to identify research needs for the implementation of Agenda 21 and to assess the possible role of universities in the field of environment and development. The meeting also discussed the establishment of the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) at the University of Zimbabwe. The proposal for the establishment of the institute was discussed at the workshop. The role of the IES is the following:
-- to promote, facilitate and, where needed, coordinate research on environmental
issues, thereby enhancing the national capacity to tackle national environmental problems
and to contribute to the resolution of regional and global problems;
-- to provide expert advice to policy makers and planners dealing with environmental
issues, thereby increasing Zimbabwe's capacity to plan and implement environmentally
sustainable development policies, programmes and activities; and
-- to promote awareness of the environment through teaching and information dissemination,
thereby contributing to better informed and more effective public participation in
decision making on environmental and sustainable development issues.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The Government requires support in strengthening the scientific base to support sustainable development. Strengthening institutions such as Universities and government research centres (SIRDC and the Research Council of Zimbabwe ) will go a long way in developing a strong scientific base for sustainable development.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
The institute coordinates
research in the University and serves as an independent
catalyst for action outside the university through the provision of a forum for
discussion, analysis of and cooperation and advice on environmental issues. The institute
maintains a register of experts on different environmental matters.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
| Zimbabwe | All Countries | Home|
No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is coordinating efforts to compile a State of the
Environment Report which will be the second report produced for Zimbabwe, following the
1992 report to UNCED. The State of the Environment Report is a requirement for the 5 year
review of UNCED and the National Conservation Strategy. To plan the report, a national
workshop was held in Kadoma involving all stakeholders to discuss the concept of State of
the Environment Reporting and identify information requirements to compile it. Various
models of reports from other countries were reviewed and themes for different chapters of
the report were identified. The process is being supported by the ZNRMP.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
No information available.
Status
The matrix below gives an overview of how national authorities rate the available
information for decision making.
Rating of available data and information suitable for decision-making
Agenda 21 Chapters |
Very good |
Good |
Some good data but many gaps |
Poor |
Remarks |
|
| 2. | International cooperation and trade | X |
||||
| 3. | Combating poverty | X |
||||
| 4. | Changing consumption patterns | |||||
| 5. | Demographic dynamics and sustainability | X |
||||
| 6. | Human health | X |
||||
| 7. | Human settlements | X |
||||
| 8. | Integrating E & D in decision-making | X |
||||
| 9. | Protection of the atmosphere | X |
||||
| 10. | Integrated planning and management of land resources | X |
||||
| 11. | Combating deforestation | X |
||||
| 12. | Combating desertification and drought | X |
||||
| 13. | Sustainable mountain development | X |
||||
| 14. | Sustainable agriculture and rural development | X |
||||
| 15. | Conservation of biological diversity | X |
||||
| 16. | Biotechnology | X |
||||
| 17. | Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources | |||||
| 18. | Freshwater resources | X |
||||
| 19. | Toxic chemicals | X |
||||
| 20. | Hazardous wastes | X |
||||
| 21. | Solid wastes | X | ||||
| 22. | Radioactive wastes | X |
||||
| 24. | Women in sustainable development | |||||
| 25. | Children and youth | X |
||||
| 26. | Indigenous people | |||||
| 27. | Non-governmental organizations | X |
||||
| 28. | Local authorities | X |
||||
| 29. | Workers and trade unions | X |
||||
| 30. | Business and industry | X |
||||
| 31. | Scientific and technological community | |||||
| 32. | Farmers | X |
||||
| 33. | Financial resources and mechanisms | X |
||||
| 34. | Technology, cooperation and capacity-building | X |
||||
| 35. | Science for sustainable development | X |
||||
| 36. | Education, public awareness and training | X |
||||
| 37. | International cooperation for capacity-building | X |
||||
| 38. | International institutional arrangements | X |
||||
| 39. | International legal instruments | X |
||||
| 40. | Information for decision-making | X |
||||
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information available.
Information
The multi-media system provides an interface of textural, pictorial and video-audio information based on a network of linked components. Zimbabwe, through the Institute of Environmental Studies, in collaboration with South Africa, through the University of Veda, has developed a sustainable management system for the management of the Limpopo valley. The management system incorporates scenario building as an essential component.
IRIS is an Integrated Resource Information System developed in the Department of Natural Resources. This information system provides information on natural resources in the form of inventories (attribute data and maps) which are freely distributed. The data is mainly used in the monitoring of the state of the environment. Much of the data is collected from other relevant ministries, though the DNR also collects raw data where gaps are identified in the existing data base. Since its establishment the information system has widened its scope to incorporate new issues and there are many government institutions and industry who regularly access it.
The MET is setting up a national sustainable development data base for Zimbabwe which will be in time series and will consist of national level indicators including economic, social and environmental development. The data base will provide a consistent set of statistics for researchers, non- governmental organizations and international organizations. The data base on economic indicators will include such issues as the gross national product, trade employment, government spending and revenue. The social indicators will include health, education and nutrition trends, while environmental indicators will include changes in erosion, forests, pollution, water and wildlife resources. The data base will feed into the National State of The Environment Reporting Process which is being coordinated by the MET.
The Department of Veterinary Services has established a geographical information system
for teak borne disease and other diseases affecting cattle. The GIS also contains
information on the environmental impacts of dip tanks. In the same department there is
also a data base on the impact of land use on tsetse eradication.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
No information available.
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This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
For a basic statistical profile of Zimbabwe, click here.
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Cooperation
The following Conventions have been signed and ratified by the Government of Zimbabwe:
-- The CITES Convention
-- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
-- The Montreal Protocol
-- The Vienna Convention
-- The Convention on the Rights of the Child
-- The Biodiversity Convention
-- The Climate Change Convention
-- The Convention on the Law of the Sea
-- The Bamako Convention
The Basel Convention and the Convention to Combat Desertification have been signed but not ratified.
The Convention on Indigenous People and the Ramsar Convention have not been signed or ratified.
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This information was provided by the Government of Zimbabwe to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
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