ZELA Blogs

Introduction On February 09, 2021, the South African High Court sitting at Western Cape delivered a milestone ruling on the protection of Environmental Rights Defenders (ERDs) against Strategic Litigation and against Public Participation (SLAPP) claims. In the Mineral Sands Resources (PTY)LTD  and Others vs Reddel and Others[1] case, the High …

Today is the World Wildlife Day which is also running concurrently with the 2021 Africa Environment Day/ Wangari Mathaai Day. The Wildlife Day is being celebrated under the theme “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”  The day puts on the spotlight the central role of forests, forest species and …

26 February 2021 Introduction On the 27th of January 2021, the Government through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development granted a 5-year tax exemption to Great Dyke Investments (GDI) through a Statutory Instrument 26/2021[1] cited as Income Tax (Exemption from Income Tax) (Great Dyke Investments (Private) Limited) Notice, 2021, effective from …

Prohibitive Mining licencing fees a “back-stab” to sustainable mining development Introduction and Background The Minister of Mines and Mining Development has in terms of section 403 of the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] increased mining fees by over 800 percent quoting the fees in United States dollars[1] but payable …

At a time when the country is extending a begging bowl to procure COVID-19 vaccines, the government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) is awarding tax holidays to extractive companies. The government recently granted a five-year tax holiday to Great Dyke Investments, a platinum mine operation. This is particularly concerning because the mining …

Compiled by Michelle Matsvaire, Rodrick Moyo and Byron Zamasiya-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Zimbabwe was hit by another cyclone in January 2021 at a time when the country was taking stock of the damage by cyclone Chalane. Cyclone Eloise reached Zimbabwe after weakening into a tropical storm. Prior to its arrival, …

Compiled by Paul Matshona and Joshua Y. Machinga-Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Background Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an indispensable sector in many developing countries. In Zimbabwe, the sector contributes to a broad-based development of the economy, contributing more than 60% of export receipts, more than 13% to GDP direct …

30th December 2020 The Director General Environmental Management Agency 685/686 Cnr Lorraine Drive/ Faber Road Bluffhill Harare Zimbabwe Dear Sir RE: OPEN LETTER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AGENCY ON ENVIRONMENTAL CHILD RIGHTS: A CALL TO ACTION, IT’S NOW OR NEVER We refer to the above matter. In the previous decades …

Date of Issue: 02 February 2021 Harare– The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) joins other countries in celebrating the World Wetlands Day. The day comes at  a time when the second wave of COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe.There is a misperception that nature is getting a break …

Compiled by Moreblessings Chidaushe-Norwegian Church Aid Just as we thought and had highly hoped that 2021 would be a much better year – we are waking up to an even more difficult 2021, new variants of the virus are sprouting everywhere, some faster and more dangerous than the first, the …