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The Ministry of Agriculture has the primary responsibility for the agricultural sector. It exercises control, regulatory, advisory, and information dissemination functions through various acts, policies, and programmes. The Ministry is also responsible for maintaining the strategic grain reserve. Important acts relevant for sustainable agricultural development include: the Plant Pests and Diseases Control Act, the Animals Health Act, the Plant Breeders Rights Act, the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Act, and the Agricultural Research Act. The Ministry of Lands and Water Development is responsible for the Water Act and for the allocation of water rights through the Water Courts. Its mandate includes the development of underground water resources, and medium and large size dams.
ARDA, a parastatal of the Ministry of Lands and Water Development, is a rural
development agency responsible for various rural development programmes. The Ministry of
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development is responsible for the implementation of the
resettlement programme through its District Development Fund. The Ministry of Environment
and Tourism, together with the Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources
Board, the Intensive Conservation Areas Committees and the Forestry Commission, is
responsible for ensuring the sustainable use of land resources through the Natural
Resources Act.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The aim of the new agricultural policy framework for the period 1995 to 2020 is to
transform smallholder agriculture into a fully commercial farming system. The annual
increase in total agricultural output will be larger than the increase in population. This
will be achieved through sustainable farming systems which reverse current environmental
degradation.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
Special area programmes, such as the mid-Zambezi Valley, have had strategic plans designed for easier inter sectoral coordination for sustainable rural development purposes. ARDA, a parastatal, has the mandate to implement agricultural and rural development programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of small scale farmers. Some of its most prominent programmes include: the Integrated Rural Development Programme in Masvingo, the Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Project in Mashonaland East, and the Small Scale Coffee and Fruit Growers Programme in Eastern Highlands. In all these programmes issues of conservation, economic and social impact are incorporated and closely monitored. Since 1992 Agritex, the agricultural extension department, and most extension organizations have re-oriented extension and programme approach to include diagnostic surveys, participatory rural appraisal, and farming systems approach to improve communication and interface with farmers.
Although Zimbabwe has initiated some successful rural development programmes, more needs to be accomplished in this area. Some examples include the following:
Status
Zimbabwe participated in the Food Summit, held in Rome in 1996. Agriculture provides
employment and livelihood to 70% of the population, 60% of industrial raw materials, and
45% total export earnings, emphasizing the very high priority given to sustainable
agriculture and rural development.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
There are six agricultural colleges under the Ministry of Agriculture which train
extension officers. The University of Zimbabwe and Africa University are also involved in
training programmes. The Agricultural Research Council of the Ministry of Agriculture
coordinates research efforts to ensure that country research needs are met. The Scientific
and Industrial Development Centre focuses on biotechnology and capacity building.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
The Agricultural Finance Corporation, a parastatal, has farmer credit schemes.
Cooperation
Zimbabwe houses and coordinates the Southern Africa Development Conference Food Security Sector Programme. There are sub-sectors on agricultural research in Botswana, on animal production, livestock control, forestry wildlife and fisheries in Malawi, and an Environmental Land Management Sector in Lesotho. Common policies in these efforts originated from a regional strategy in Food Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environment developed in 1987. SADC has a pre-Rio agenda, and its post-Rio agenda has seen member states develop new environmental policies and action plans and introduce environmental impact assessment measures. There are new resource management policies and laws such as several Zambezi Action Plan Projects which were completed with new principles and guidelines for shared watercourse systems.
In the Agricultural Sector Zimbabwe cooperates with such international organizations as FAO and ICRISAT, and with donor agencies, such as USAID, GTZ, DANIDA and the World Bank.
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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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-- The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, which is responsible for air pollution as it relates to its impacts on human health;
-- The Department of Meteorology in the Ministry of Transport and Energy, which is responsible for meteorological data as it relates to the atmosphere. This department has programmes for drought monitoring and early warning systems primarily as they relate to the agricultural sector.
-- Local authorities of major urban and mining centers, such as Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Hwange and Kwekwe. Local authorities, like the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, collect data emissions (both dust and gases) as it relates to human health.
-- The Department of Energy in the Ministry of Transport and Energy. The Department is generally responsible for energy development, efficiency and consumption. This includes reduction of emissions from the energy sector.
An Ozone Office was created to coordinate the implementation of projects under the
Montreal Protocol.
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
Zimbabwe is also in the process of carrying out inventories of greenhouse gases,
developing a communication strategy and an action programme. A solar photovoltaic pilot
project for rural lighting is being implemented with GEF support.
Status
The Ozone Office is currently working on the terms of reference of the study to collect data on ozone depleting gases, their consumption, importation and exportation. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 1997. A project to recycle CFCs in under implementation and six projects in retrofitting of refrigerators are also underway.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Zimbabwe is currently part of a UNDP capacity building project which includes Mali, Ghana and Kenya. The project will help build capacity in these countries to respond to their obligations under the UNFCC and facilitate the production of National Communications required by November 1997. The National Communications will present a summary of climate related activities in Zimbabwe and will be the result of a broad-based consultation process. Other projects completed in the context of climate change include: UNITAR's training project; US country studies on inventories, vulnerability, mitigation and adaptation; and UNEP's project on cost abatement.
The CC Train programme (1993-1994) was implemented to raise awareness among government officials, private sector, University, and NGO community on environmental issues.
Capacity building programmes are being developed in various institutions in two forms. The first involves sending personnel to institutions in developed countries that deal with similar issues. For example, Meteorological Officers have been going on training programmes at centers such as the Drought Monitoring Centre, in Nairobi, and the Australian National Meteorological Centre. The second includes sending officers for further training in universities and colleges. However, these capacity building programmes need to be expanded to include all the technical requirements in the management of climate change issues and how they relate to the environment.
The three major groups which are being targeted are industry, including the informal
sector, the general public, forestry, agriculture and the water sector (large dams).
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
Donor funds have been allocated to climate change and ozone related activities. Out of the total amount, the contribution made by the Government is 15 percent, mainly through the provision of office facilities and salaries for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism personnel. The remainder of the finances are being provided by GEF.
Cooperation
The Montreal Protocol (1987) was ratified on in 1992 and came into force in 1993; both the London Amendment (1990) and the Copenhagen Amendment (1992), were ratified in 1994.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was ratified on 3 November 1992 and entered into force on 21 March 1994.
International cooperation is being fostered through participation in various panels of experts of the Ozone Protocol and the Climate Change Convention. Zimbabwe is currently participating in a regional study to evaluate the reduction of greenhouse gases under the Regional Power Pool Project and the SADC Regional Early Warning System.
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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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No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has the mandate to design biodiversity policies and plans. The new Environmental Management Act, still at the drafting stage, will consolidate fragmented legislation giving the MET and its institutions conservation responsibilities. Zimbabwe's Interim Environmental Impact Assessment Policy of 1994 provides precautionary measures on biodiversity issues. These will be incorporated into the Environmental Management Act as law. The proposed Intellectual Property Protection and Patents bill is still at the consultation stage among stakeholders. This bill will be presented by the Minister in the President's office. The proposed legislation seeks to address issues of rights of access, protection of materials and the share of benefits accrued. The current legislation is not applicable and adequate for current developments.
Mechanisms for promoting the sustainable use of biological biodiversity include an enabling legislative framework which promotes the sustainable use of renewable biological resources. User rights to forest and land resources belonging to the Government have been decentralized to Rural District Councils. The Parks and Wildlife Act gives full rights to land owners to fully utilize and benefit from resources on private properties.
The mechanism for in situ conservation is through the establishment of protected areas. These cover 13% of the country and were established under the Parks and Wildlife Act. They include Parks and Wildlife state land, Botanical Reserves and Gardens. In addition, commercial forest covers 2%. Statutory provision for the protection of listed threatened species is applied where human activities prevent the recovery of their population.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
As a part of Zimbabwe's obligations under the Convention on Biological, it is developing a
programme of action for the conservation of biodiversity. The Government recently set up a
Biodiversity Coordinating Unit which is responsible for the development of national
strategies, plans and programmes for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity.
Zimbabwe has a range of long standing strategies in place for the conservation of
biological diversity.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
Zimbabwe has a programme for promoting the recovery of threatened species from the endangered list. The Parks and Wildlife Act controls the introduction of exotic species. The National Herbarium of the Ministry of Agriculture houses a quarter of a million dried specimens representing plant biological diversity within Zimbabwe. The garden includes ecological units representing all major types of vegetation in Zimbabwe with over 1,000 tree and shrub species collected from all parts of the country represented in forms of naturally occurring plant association with the long-term objective of creating replicas of indigenous vegetation. Information on indigenous trees used by herbalists is compiled. The Forestry Commission has a herbarium at Chirinda Forest as well as a number of gene banks. The gene bank for agricultural crops and their wild varieties in Zimbabwe is under the Crop Breeding Institute of the Department of Research and Specialist Services.
The DNR implemented a programme of protected areas with the objective of conserving biodiversity specifically in unique ecosystems, such as those containing remnant species in the region which are now under threat. The programme incorporates the goals and needs of the community, and there is a total of twenty two sites. The Mapembe Forest project, implemented in 1992, has a public participation component attaching value to biodiversity for the multiple purpose of species, including economic, medicinal, and cultural. The community is empowered in terms of access to the resources and benefits accruing. Local knowledge systems in terms of management and use of different species for medicinal and traditional ceremonies are also incorporated. The 22 other sites do not include public participation, although Wedza Mountain and Nyachowa Falls have an element of consultation and participation by locals.
Rehabilitation and reclamation programmes incorporate biodiversity principles such as
localized gully reclamation and catchment area rehabilitation, the most outstanding being
the Save which incorporates eleven Rural District Councils. Other biodiversity
conservation projects include the Botanical Garden's Project and the Guruve North
Biodiversity project. Despite these effort, Zimbabwe is still losing its biological
diversity through deforestation and land degradation and it is hoped that the current
inventories and action programmes under the Biodiversity Convention may assist in solving
the problem of biodiversity loss.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Economic benefits accrued from wildlife marketing are more attractive than from agricultural land use systems encouraging conservation of wildlife habitats. The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) has focused on the development of local institutions for the management and sustainable utilization of communal wildlife resources, enabling communities and families to benefit economically from wildlife in their areas. CAMPFIRE is being applied to inshore fisheries in Lake Kariba and to the management of indigenous forestry resources in Mutoko District.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
The Mushandike Natural Resources College specializes in training wildlife managers, and
the Zimbabwe College of Forestry provides training in forestry. The Institute for
Environmental Studies focuses on research and training in environmental matters which
address Zimbabwe's needs. The National Herbarium offers specialized training programmes in
plant taxonomy, among others.
Financing
Financing for biodiversity conservation programmes has been increasing over the years.
Cooperation
Zimbabwe is a party to the CITES and Biodiversity Conventions and cooperates with other States in their efforts to enforce trade bans on endangered species. The National Herbarium houses dried plant specimens, including materials from other countries in Southern Africa. The Herbarium also identifies trees from Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
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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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biosafety web sites in the European Union.
For access to the Web Site of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, click here:
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No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) is responsible for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of the country's natural resources. The Natural Resources Act and the Forestry Act facilitate the regulation, control, and coordination of anti-desertification activities by enabling the MET to spearhead and coordinate the implementation of the CCD.
The Natural Resources Board, the Department of Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission, and the Department of Parks and Wildlife are institutions of the MET which implement its various programmes and functions.
The Ministry of Lands and Water (MLW) controls water use through the provisions of the Water Act. Its mandate includes the development, sustainable use and allocation of water resources and the protection of catchment areas.
The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the Early Warning Unit, the strategic
grain reserve and drought recovery programmes. The Rural District Councils Act empowers
RDC to make bye-laws relating to the management and conservation of indigenous resources.
The legal framework with implications on desertification processes include the Communal
Land Forest Produce Act, the Mines and Minerals Act and the Parks and Wildlife Act.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Zimbabwe's commitment to the implementation of anti-desertification and drought mitigation activities, with the effective participation of communities, goes back to 1987 when Zimbabwe took the initiative of designing a National Conservation Strategy. In 1995 the Desertification Convention National Awareness Workshop was held with the participation of all stakeholders. In addition, Zimbabwe has undertaken the following activities in the context of the Convention to Combat Desertification:
-- Awareness raising campaign, promoted by an interim committee, the forerunner of a
permanent task force on Desertification spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment and
Tourism;
-- Compilation of a work plan summary and background information papers for the
development of the National Action Plan;
-- Consultation processes to establish a National Desertification Fund;
-- A National Workshop was convened, in 1995, to develop a Desert Margins Initiative
(DDI)
Strategy and to identify a specific objective for Zimbabwe focusing on policies, research
and technology transfer programmes for dry land natural resource management systems.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
The implementation, in 1993, of the District Environmental Action Planning Programme (DEAP) in four pilot districts, as a follow up response to the 1992 Agenda 21, provides an opportunity to implement initiatives relating to the CCD, the Climate Change and the Biodiversity Conventions through participatory approaches.
Zimbabwe suffers from severe droughts; the worst and most recent one experienced in 1992. In order to monitor and mitigate the effects of drought, the following programmes and activities have been undertaken:
-- Food Security and Early Warning Project, which covers SADC;
-- Establishment of a drought monitoring center;
-- Food Reserves Programme to improve food holding capacity and technology;
-- Adoption of a policy of building a medium size dam per district per year, a target
which has not been achieved. A more successful initiative, started in 1993 in partnership
with the private sector, NGOs, and donors and administered by local authorities, is the
"Give a Dam Programme" in which organizations assist communities to construct
small dams;
-- Drought relief through food distribution, borehole drilling and drought recovery
programmes consisting of seed and fertilizer packs to alleviate the impact of drought on
poor households.
The Government is currently implementing programmes to address land degradation, such as: gully rehabilitation, extension and training, grazing schemes, conservation tillage, mechanical conservation, biological conservation, woodlot programme consolidated gardens, protection and conservation of wetland, sponges and springs; awareness and enforcement through the Natural Resources Act.
Status
Encroaching desertification and land degradation are major environmental
concerns in Zimbabwe. A 1993 survey showed that about 10% of the land is
moderately to extensively eroded, with 23% of the communal areas showing
significant erosion. Despite the fact that only 25% of the land in Zimbabwe is
suitable for agricultural use, due to poverty and the lack of alternative
livelihoods, people continue to exploit limited natural resources for their
survival. Consequently, water scarcity and drought are affecting a significant
portion of the country.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The Natural Resources Management Programme has maintained a focus on capacity building in
policy development and integrated resource monitoring.
Information
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism applies information management in its resource
management efforts, the supporting applications include: state of the environment
reporting; environmental monitoring; and ecological land classification. These outputs
assist the MET in making policies and decisions to combat desertification.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
The establishment of the National Desertification Fund, which is still under consultation,
is viewed as essential to augment public funds.
Cooperation
The International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification Particularly in Africa was signed in 1994, ratified on 23 September 1997 and entered into force on 22 December 1997.
Zimbabwe is active in such regional programmes as the SADC Regional Early Warning Unit, the Zambezi River System Action Plan, and the SADC Environment and Land Management Sector Programme. Through initiatives of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, Zimbabwe implemented five pilot projects which address desertification problems through improved land management.
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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 access to the Web Site of the Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought, click here:
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Programmes and Projects
Although Zimbabwe has initiated some successful rural development programmes, more needs to be accomplished in this area. Some examples include the following:
-- The Department of Energy has developed programmes to identify alternative energy
sources, such as solar, wind and badges. The GEF Solar Photovoltaic Project for rural
households and community use in Zimbabwe was implemented in 1993 with the objective of
installing 9000 systems in rural areas, as a pilot project. By 1996, 6000 systems had been
installed.
-- A rural electrification programme was introduced in 1985; however, due to financial
limitations, it has not realized the desired goals.
-- Fuel-saving stoves and alternative sources of energy have been developed to alleviate
shortages of energy in rural areas and help combat land degradation.
Status
Up to 55% of urban households are supplied with electricity, compared to 28% in rural areas. The bulk of the remaining households rely on fuel wood with its attendant impact on the environment. The Government, through the Department of Energy, is exploring and promoting alternative sources of energy, such as solar energy and biogas as well as energy saving devices. The rural electrification programme which started in 1982 has not progressed as anticipated.
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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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No information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), through the Forestry Commission, a
parastatal which is the lead implementing agency of the Forestry Act, is responsible for
the forestry sector. The Department of Parks and Wildlife Management, the Natural Resource
Board, and the Department of Natural Resources, under the MET, through the provisions of
the Natural Resources Act, the Communal Lands Forest Produce Act and the Parks and
Wildlife Act, contribute towards the sustainable utilization and management of Natural
Resources, including forests. Rural District Councils are responsible for land use
planning and utilization of forest resources at the district level. The Strategic
Directions, formulated by the MET in 1996, represent a holistic approach to the
implementation of environmental policies integrating the statutory land based institutions
of all its departments, parastatals, boards and authorities.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Zimbabwe has also drafted a National Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Forests.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
As a part of Zimbabwe's National Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Forests, the following programmes have been put into place to address the problem of deforestation:
Status
Zimbabwe's forest resources account for about 3% of the Gross Domestic Product, not
including benefits from indigenous woodlands. Total forest area is about 24.9 million
hectares, covering 60% of the country. In 1995, 110,000 hectares were under plantation,
compared to 104,436 hectares in 1990. Forest industries employ 16,000 people, and the
gross value of processed forest industrial products exceeds US $40 million a year. State
lands and protected areas comprising 6 million hectares of commercially productive
woodlands, including parks and protected areas vital for the tourist industry, are managed
by the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management.
Challenges
Despite these programmes, the rate of deforestation continues to exceed afforestation efforts. The Government has realized the need to adopt a more integrated approach to resource management using participatory methodologies which the DEAP project is elaborating . There is also the need for more investment into affordable alternative energy sources in order to reduce rural communities' dependency on fuelwood.
Deforestation is one of the major environmental problems facing Zimbabwe. About 70,000
to 100,000 ha of forest is cleared every year and the forest cover is estimated to be
declining at a rate of 1.5% per year (UNDP, 1997). The main causes of deforestation
include increasing demand for land for agricultural development and dependence on wood as
fuel in the rural areas. Deforestation has caused land degradation and siltation of rivers
and dams. A large amount of biodiversity has also been lost and so has the socio-cultural
role of forests. The loss of forests is somehow linked to the growing poverty in the rural
areas.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The Forestry Commission invests in post graduate staff development programmes to meet
needs as they arise. Nineteen diploma course students graduate every year from the
Zimbabwe College of Forestry of the FC, and the Forestry Industry Training Center has also
increased its output from 21 in 1992/93 to an enrolment of 62 students in 1995.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
The government's grant for development activities has declined in real terms. The commercial operations are profitable.
Cooperation
Zimbabwe is a signatory of the Earth Charter and subscribes to the principles of Agenda 21 and related conventions, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The Government also participates on the Ad hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests.
Zimbabwe cooperates with international institutions in order to improve its plantation productivity and broaden the genetic base of important exotic species. The Forestry Commission has benefited from its membership in the Central America and Mexico Coniferous Resources Cooperative. In addition, through the coordinating activities of the Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe host, in 1997, the 15th Commonwealth Forestry Conference whose theme was "Forestry in a changing political environment; challenges for the 21st century." The Zimbabwe College of Forestry is accessible to regional students, mostly from other SADCC countries.
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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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The Ministry of Lands and Water Development has the overall mandate for the protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources, including monitoring their pollution levels. The Ministry of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development addresses water supply and sanitation issues through the District Development Fund and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation. The Ministry has given responsibility to local authorities in major urban areas for the management and protection of their water resources.
The Agricultural, Technical, and Extension Services (AGRITEX) is the department of the
Ministry of Agriculture responsible for irrigation extension and schemes, mainly in
communal areas. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) was established in December
1995 and consultations with stakeholders are currently being held in order to finalize its
structure and components. Once functional ZINWA will be responsible for water resources
management and regulation, while water supply and national infrastructure is the
responsibility of the proposed Water Supply Zimbabwe Limited.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Natural Resources Act provides for the monitoring of water quality and pollution and
catchment protection in order to reduce siltation. It established the Water Pollution
Control Unit, which is responsible for the day to day monitoring of water quality. The
proposed Environmental Management Act will set the standards for water quality which will
form the basis for monitoring.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
The Water Sector Reform Programme, launched in 1993 in the Ministry of Lands and Water, is the main focus in the protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources in Zimbabwe. The overall objective of the programme is the sustainable, equitable and economically feasible use of water resources, taking into account shared waters. The programme has two components, namely: the institutional development and legal framework and the water resources management strategy project.
The specific objectives of the water resources management strategy project are the following:
-- to recommend required legislative reforms to review the Water Act and the
institutional framework;
-- to produce guidelines on the equitable allocation of water, quantification of total
water resources, demand, management and increased water use and efficiency in all user
sectors;
-- to develop guidelines for investment in the water sector;
-- to guide the process of selecting and adopting a pricing policy and strategy;
-- to produce guidelines on catchment planning and facilitate the development of two pilot
catchment developments in Mazowe and Mupfure;
-- to facilitate stakeholder participation, publicize and disseminate information;
-- to facilitate capacity building in the Department of Water Resources; and
-- to produce guidelines on environmental management, recommending policy changes on water
pollution and effluent discharge.
Status
Water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource in Zimbabwe, and access to water is a key to development and poverty reduction. The national priority is to develop adequate water resources for the growing needs of the various sectors of the economy and to ensure good water quality.
As a land locked country without natural lakes, Zimbabwe's water supply is based on
water harvesting and use of groundwater resources. There are currently more than 800 large
dams in Zimbabwe. In order to increase water supply, mainly for irrigation, the government
plans to build one medium size dam per district under the Give-a-Dam project. The
government also plans to build additional large dams, irrigation systems, water supply
schemes and drill boreholes and wells. To ensure sustainability in communal areas, local
people will be trained in how to maintain the water supply equipment and will be actively
involved in the operation of water supply. The objective is to ensure that nobody in rural
areas will have to walk more than 3 kms to the nearest drinking water point (mainly
boreholes). Although many boreholes have been drilled under this programme, the problem is
they often dry up as a result of drought and the lack of funds and spare parts to maintain
the pumps.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The main issues relating to capacity-building are being addressed under the Water Sector
Reform Program, and all institutions dealing with freshwater have developed capacity
building programmes. These include sending officers to academic institutions, mostly in
developed countries, which offer programmes in the field of fresh water resources. These
programmes are mainly funded by donor institutions.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
During the 1996/1997 fiscal year, the Government allocated Z$ 1,710,000 for irrigation
extension services and schemes; Z$ 70,409,000 for construction of major water conservation
works; Z$ 40,285,000 for construction of water supplies; Z$ 6,210,000 for research
in ground water and the hydrological field; Z$ 9,000,000 for water supplies
under local government, rural and urban development and Z$ 15,000,000 for sewerage under
local authorities.
Cooperation
The SADC Watercourse Protocol of 1995 is the major regional programme. This programme addresses issues regarding all shared watercourses. The Zambezi Action Plan (ZACPLAN) is also an important programme which monitors and controls pollution levels in the Zambezi River. There is a similar initiative for the Limpopo River.
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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.
Click here to visit the Web Site of the Ramsar Convention.
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Land authorities in Zimbabwe include Rural District Councils, Urban Councils, the Forestry
Commission, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, and private
landowners. The current Regional Town and Country Planning Act, administered by The
Ministry of Local Government Rural and Urban Development (MLGRUD), has legal provisions
for the general framework for land use and physical planning. It also controls development
and change of land use. It is policy to design and institute urban, and combination master
plans.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is responsible for the management of natural
resources. Provisions of the proposed Environmental Management Act will enable the MET to
coordinate all agencies to ensure planning for best possible land use and management. In
addition, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, through its
Department of Physical Planning, has the mandate to produce Master Plans which take into
consideration environmental issues, as a result of the provisions of the Regional Town and
Country Planning Act. The Department of Physical Planning is also responsible for national
urban development strategies which take cognizance of the economic and demographic impact
of the national policies in spatial terms. The Rural District Councils Act gives councils
the power to plan and control land use at the district level.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) currently has an interim Environment Impact
Assessment (EIA) policy, introduced in 1994, which ensures that the potential and known
ecological, cultural, social and economic impacts resulting from land and water use are
minimized or eliminated. The EIA programme continues to evolve into an integrated network
of programmes that work in support of an ecosystem approach to management, as well as
develop Environmental Operating Guidelines for the various sectors. The MET is drafting a
consolidated and effective new Environmental Management Act to clarify its mandate and
co-ordinate the responsibilities of all agencies, the private sector and communities so as
to ensure the best possible land use and management of land resources. Included in the
current information on management systems is the State of Environmental Reporting and
Environmental monitoring.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
There are various Governmental and non-governmental agencies responsible for the
management of land resources in Zimbabwe.
Programmes and Projects
The MET has spearheaded various initiatives, programmes and services designed for
sustainable planning and management of land resources. The District Environmental Action
Planning (DEAP) programme, under implementation by the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), the MLGRUD, and NGOs, is a locally-based initiative which uses horizontal
communication systems and empowers grassroots communities in planning and decision making
regarding their human and natural resource needs. The Ministry of Agriculture, through its
department Agritex, provides land capability (or suitability) classification for land use
plans at farm, village, communal, district and regional levels. This allows farmers and
communities to make informed decisions on sustainable, viable and optimum land use
systems. Land use plans take account of social, cultural, ecological, and economic issues.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
Land degradation is one of the major
environmental problems especially in communal areas. The Government has put into place
programmes to improve the planning and management of land resources.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
In 1996, the MLGRUD introduced a nation-wide capacity-building programme for Rural District Councils (RDC) following the 8 pilot district project. The 5-year national programme increases local authorities' capacity in terms of human resources, institution building and human resources development. The process empowers local authorities to make policies, plan and manage resources and take effective action at the local level, based on locally driven approaches.
The Zimbabwe Natural Resources Management Programme incorporates a capacity building
component in the areas of resource monitoring, information dissemination, planning, policy
coordination, and socio-economic analysis. The EPCU in liaison with the University of
Zimbabwe has offered scholarships for students taking a masters programme in policy and
planning.
Information
The MET is setting up a national sustainable development data base for Zimbabwe, which
will be in time series, consisting of national level indicators, such as economic, social
and environmental development. The data will be used by researchers; it will feed into the
National State of the Environment reporting process which is also coordinated by the
Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Twelve agencies comprise the working committee
allowing exchange of information. Zimbabwe currently has a vegetation and mapping system
(VEGRIS) in the Forestry Commission for vegetation monitoring and mapping. The DNR has set
up an integrated resource management information system (IRIS) as a management tool for
describing and assessing Zimbabwe's natural resources. The Department of the Surveyor
General produces maps and other related information which are available for use by various
Departments.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
Substantive funding for the planning and management of land resources has been provided by
the Government through its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).
Cooperation
Donor funding has also been provided for specific programmes, such as DEAP, NAP, Biodiversity and Rural Afforestation.
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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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Programmes and Projects
Mountain pilot project initiatives were implemented by the government in 1988, 1989, and 1992 for biodiversity conservation. The Mapembe Mountain has been declared a protected area under the Natural Resources Act. What is unique about the Mapembe Mountain Conservation Project is that local communities requested the Natural Resources Board to protect the mountain environment as a conservation area, in turn protecting the cultural value of the mountain. This project is community based with full participation in the protection of the mountain ecosystem, both for ecological and cultural reasons.
The Rural Development Programme integrates the conservation component, erosion control and promotional aspects through such means as the planting of vetiver grass. Other farming systems in the communal sector need to strengthen the conservation component. The traditional farming systems in Manicaland included stone terraces and ridges to control erosion in slopes. Agritex recognizes this practice and promotes it through research and extension efforts.
The Hwedza Mountain Project is still in the planning stage. Delays in implementation
have occurred because the request did not come from the local communities but from the
Hwedza Intensive Conservation Area committee.
Status
Mountains occupy a relatively small proportion of Zimbabwe. The main range is located in the Eastern Highlands, in the Manicaland Province. The greatest proportion of the mountain land consists of very steep rocky terrain unsuitable for agriculture.
Up to 32% of the highlands consists of protected National Parks and Forest Land. Large scale commercial private farms occupy 50% of the highlands, with specialized plantation crops such as tea, coffee, wattle, and pine dominating the farming system in that sector.
Degradation control measures under such perennial land use systems have been satisfactory, although localized problem areas exist. In communal lands, such as the Rusitu Valley, Honde and Katiyo, smallholder coffee, tea and fruit are commonly grown.
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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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Cooperation
Zimbabwe signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on 24 February 1993 and ratified it on 28 October 1994.
Zimbabwe is considering signing the International Maritime Organization's Treaty and is a party to the protocols under the African Maritime Charter. At the regional level, Zimbabwe is a member of the Port Management Authority for Eastern and Southern Africa which opens dialogue between landlocked countries and coastal states with provisions to harmonize tariffs and management systems and promote information dissemination.
The ZACPLAN project is a SAC project aimed at building capacity for the management of international waters. It involves the harmonization of policies, regulations, and institutional development for the management of shared water resources.
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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.
To access the Web Site of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, click here:
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The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is responsible for the management of toxic
chemicals. It works in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Industry.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Hazardous Substances and Articles Control Act provides the legal framework for the control and management of toxic chemicals, and gives the mandate to the government to approve the import of toxic chemicals in the country as well as to regulate their use and disposal.
The Hazardous Substances and Articles Control Act also calls for the safe disposal of toxic chemicals and containers used for these chemicals. The Hazardous Substances Control Unit has limited capacity to monitor the use of toxic chemicals. The Unit is currently developing codes of practice for chemical use and disposal.
The environmental law reform which is underway will include standards and guidelines in
the area of toxic chemicals, particularly those on safe use and disposal.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
There have been programmes to strengthen collaboration between the government and the
private sector in the areas of agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, and their impacts on
the environment.
Status
The Government maintains a register of all toxic chemicals produced in the country and those imported from abroad. Before any toxic chemical is imported, approval is required from the Government through licensing. Once a chemical is imported it is registered and conditions for its use, storage, and disposal are established. Routine checks are carried out to ensure compliance. The Government also deploys port health authorities at all international borders to prevent the import of illegal chemicals.
At the international level, any country wishing to export toxic chemicals is obliged, under the Prior informed Consent Principle, to inform the receiving country of the details of such chemicals and to provide information on which company wishes to import them. The Government will then carry out investigations and will approve or disapprove the imports before these take place. However, since this principle is not legally binding it is not very effective. Discussions are underway to negotiate a legal instrument to control the export of toxic waste.
At the national level all chemicals are classified in terms of their toxicity and
different labels are used for different toxicity levels. The act requires companies to use
these labels on their products. The Occupational Safety and Health Act calls for the
safety of workers, particularly when they handle toxic substances, by promoting the use of
protective clothing, a safe working environment, and compensations in case of occupational
hazards.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The national priority is to promote the environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals through education and awareness, the development of a register of toxic chemicals as well as their classification, and promotion of cleaner production technologies.
There is very limited capacity both in the customs and police departments in terms of
being able to identify toxic substances. There is therefore a need to increase capacity in
this area. The capacity in the Ministry of Health is also limited in terms of screening
and monitoring chemicals.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
There is international cooperation in the area of exchange of information as it relates to toxic chemicals. This exchange of information is carried out through the International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. Zimbabwe also subscribes to the London Guidelines and to the Prior Informed Consent Principle which requires a country wishing to export toxic chemicals to inform the recipient country of the details of those chemicals.
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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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Solid Waste and Sanitation
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesNo information available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Natural Resources Act, the Water Act, the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District
Councils Act regulate the disposal of Waste in Zimbabwe. The management of sewage related issues is conducted through the use of the Water
regulations of 1977 -Effluent and Water Standards- contained in the Water Act.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
The Government developed guidelines in 1994 for industrial waste management, including
solid wastes and sewage. The main objective of the guidelines is to help local authorities
and waste generating companies to improve waste management systems so that negative
effects on the environment are minimized.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
The Water
Resources Management Strategy Project, under the Water Sector Reform Programme launched by
the Ministry of Lands and Water in 1993, is addressing the possible policy changes
regarding water pollution and effluent discharges. In addition, in 1996 the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism commissioned a study to review environmental standards, including
effluent and water standards. The findings of the study will be used as an input in the
ongoing process to develop new environmental legislation. There are programmes in which
sewage is recycled and used for agriculture.
Status
No information available.
Challenges
Waste, both solid and sewage-related, is becoming a problem in urban areas as urban population increases. Approximately 99 percent of the solid wastes in the country are disposed in landfill sites, the majority of which are old quarries or gravel pits. In general, the landfills are not protected for leakages with low permeable underlying soils, concrete, tarmac or membranes. The problems arising from that are the following:
-- with the exception of Harare, solid wastes are not sorted according to the type of
wastes; -- the pollution from leachates is not properly understood; and
-- the impact on ground water has not been analyzed.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The Government with donor support has introduced a capacity building programme for its officers and those from local authorities. Institutions of higher education, such as Universities and Polytechnics, have programmes which build capacity in the areas of solid wastes and sewage.
Officers in the Department of Natural Resources have participated in two
pilot projects on waste management and industrial pollution measurement. These
pilot projects have resulted in the development of waste management guidelines
and are being expanded into other urban areas.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
The Government contributes regularly from its fiscal budget and through loans. During the
1996/97 fiscal year the Government allocated Z$ 15,000 for sewerage works.
Cooperation
To foster regional cooperation, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism organizes regional exchange programmes. In 1995 the Department of Natural Resources, together with representatives from local authorities visited South Africa on such a programme. In addition, the Zambezi Action Plan (ZACPLAN), a regional SADC initiative, addresses sewage related issues from the point of view of water pollution as it relates to the major riparian river basins.
Hazardous Wastes
Decision-Making: Coordinating BodiesThe Hazardous Substance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is responsible
for the control of hazardous substances. The Unit focuses on the impact on human health.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism assesses the impacts on natural resources through
the Natural Resources Act.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No report has been provided to the Basel Convention Secretariat as the Government is not yet a party to the Convention. The control of hazardous substances use and disposal is regulated by the Hazardous Substances and Articles Control Act administered by the Ministry of Health.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
No information available.
Programmes and Projects
The programmes carried out as a result of the requirements of the Hazardous Substance and Articles Act include:
-- Encouraging the industrial sector to treat, recycle, re-use and dispose of hazardous wastes at the source of generation, when its generation is unavoidable and when it is economically and environmentally efficient. This is being done through meetings of the Industrial Chemicals Association.
-- Development of draft regulations, currently being reviewed, by the Hazardous Substance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, which lay down the responsibility of industries for environmentally sound disposal of hazardous wastes generated by their activities.
-- Development of draft guidelines and methodologies for the characterization and classification by the Hazardous Substance Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. These are currently being reviewed.
-- Development of draft legislation to prevent the illegal import and export of wastes. The legislation is currently being developed.
Status
Since the Rio Conference in 1992, the following activities have been carried out:
-- the enforcement of existing legislation has been strengthened;
-- a radiation protection services department has been established;
-- a Hazardous Substances Control Advisory Board has been instituted and various
sub-committees formed; and
-- hazardous waste management regulations have been introduced and national guidelines for
the disposal of hazardous waste developed for local authorities.
Challenges
No information available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Capacity building and technology issues are addressed by the Hazardous Substance Unit in
conjunction with the private sector. The Cleaner Production Center in the Scientific
Industrial Development Research Center is also addressing these issues. Officers in the
Hazardous Substances Control Unit attend courses at the International Atomic Energy
Agency.
Information
No information available.
Research and Technologies
No information available.
Financing
No information available.
Cooperation
Zimbabwe signed the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal on 22 March 1989, but has not yet ratified it. Zimbabwe ratified the Bamako Convention in 1993.
At the regional level Zimbabwe participates in meetings of the Bamako Convention and, at the international level, it participates in meetings of the Basel Convention and in the development of legal instruments for the Prior Informed Consent and London Guidelines.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: January 1998.
For direct link to the Web Site of the Basel Convention, click here:
Radioactive Wastes
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is responsible for the management of wastes. A radiation protection services committee has been formed, under the Hazardous Substances Advisory Board, to coordinate the control and management of radioactive wastes. Zimbabwe is an active member of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Status
Zimbabwe produces very limited quantities of radioactive wastes, mainly from medical and agricultural research and electricity generation. An inventory is under way to determine the actual quantities produced. However, the safe environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes is encouraged. Zimbabwe is currently investigating cost effective methods for environmentally sound disposal of radioactive wastes. There are possibilities for a regional initiative in this area.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of to the 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: January 1998.
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