Protect Environment, Chiefs Urged

Date: October 13, 2004

Source: The Herald (Harare)

Author: Anon

Traditional leaders have been urged to understand and appreciate their roles and responsibilities in protecting the environment as outlined in the Traditional Leaders Act, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Cde Francis Nhema, has said.

The minister made the remarks during a recent workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) for traditional leaders at Vashandiri Training Centre in Shurugwi.

The workshop was attended by, among others, Chief Nhema, Chief Ndanga, Chief Banga and 26 headmen from around Shurugwi.

The main objective of the workshop was to ensure that traditional leaders, with the assistance of Government agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Commission, and the local authorities played a major role in combating environmental degradation by enforcing environmental laws.

"Shurugwi should act as one of the pilot project areas in promoting the role of traditional leaders in environmental management and enforcing environmental legislation," said the minister.

Cde Nhema also emphasised the need for traditional leaders to be given rights to lead their communities to stop indiscriminate cutting down of trees, veld fires, unplanned settlements and land degradation.

The minister reiterated that the role of traditional leaders was enshrined in the Environmental Management Act drafted in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

The workshop ended on a high note with traditional leaders expressing gratitude to the minister for working with Zela which would explain environmental laws to the people.

They pledged to enforce laws in their communities especially on illegal gold panning activities, which have caused extensive land degradation in Shurugwi.

However, the leaders said some resettled areas do not have any traditional leaders to monitor and enforce laws that promote the conservation of natural resources.

The workshop was the second one of its kind to be held in the area by Zela. The organisation has been working with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Africa to carry out some environmental law training workshops in areas such as Binga, Guruve, Chimanimani, Chiredzi and Mutare.

An environmental lawyer with Zela, Mr Shamiso Mtisi, said the activities were in line with the requirements of the Environmental Management Act that environmental education and awareness must be promoted to increase the capacity of communities to "address environmental issues and adopt values and skills that promote sustainable environmental management".

"Zela has, therefore, taken Shurugwi as a pilot programme for sensitising the traditional leadership on their role in environmental management and it intends to include other districts around the country," he said.