The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is the premier and first public interest environmental law organization based in Harare, Zimbabwe. ZELA was formed in September 2000 and legally constituted as a Trust in November 2001 under Deed of Trust Number MA1669/2001. The spirit behind the formation of ZELA was to promote environmental justice and sustainable use of natural resources through research, advocacy and impact litigation. Institutionally, our work spans over helping poor communities assert and claim their environmental rights as well as promoting public participation in decision and policy making processes. Our thrust is to make sure that environmental policies, strategies and legal frameworks respond positively to the needs of poor women, men and youths living in urban and rural communities. Currently, ZELA has four operative programmes namely; Land and Communities Programme, Urban Environment Programme, Environmental Law Education Programme and the Transboundary Natural Resources Management Programme.

Our Mission

Using the law to protect and conserve the environment

Our Vision

Environmental Justice through sustainable and equitable utilization of natural resources and environmental protection

Key Strategies

The key strategies being used by ZELA to accomplish its mission and vision include; action based policy and legal research, advocacy, conflict resolution and impact litigation.  Notably, action based policy and legal research is instrumental in establishing prevailing policy, legislative, social, economic and political trends and their effect on environmental justice and poverty reduction. The research actions will form the basis for strategic policy and legal advocacy activities to promote the promulgation of laws and policies that respond to the needs and interests of poor communities and the broader national quest for poverty reduction. Advocacy campaigns are targeted at policy makers at the local and national level, while at the community level, ZELA promotes environmental law awareness and builds community capacity for rights claiming. Environmental disputes are resolved through peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms. However, if alternative dispute resolution mechanisms fail to resolve the conflict, ZELA resorts to litigation on behalf of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

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