Environmental Law Education: An Awareness Campaign

In November 2003, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) launched an environmental law education initiative, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, whose objective is to sensitise individuals, communities, local authorities, industries and various government departments on the provisions of the newly promulgated Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27). The Act was passed into law in October 2002 and came into effect in March 2003. People are not yet clear on the rights and duties placed on them by the law. Since its passage into law little efforts have been made to take the law to the people. ZELA, together with other stakeholders and environmental organisations has taken up the challenge of addressing this issue.

Section 4 (2) of the Environmental Management Act sets out the basic rights and principles for environmental management in Zimbabwe. One of those principles is that, “environmental education, environmental awareness and the sharing of knowledge and experience must be promoted in order to increase the capacity of communities to address environmental issues and engender values, attitudes, skills and behaviour consistent with sustainable environmental management’’.

In line with this principle, ZELA has identified environmental education and communication as important strategies that should be nurtured and strengthened since they are key processes for sustainable environmental management. Thus, ZELA is one of the institutions that have started to focus on the training of selected stakeholders as a means to achieve the implementation and enforcement of the new law. The aim is to create awareness and publicise the new laws in order to ensure that people change attitudes, values and ethics. Environmental law education provides the avenue for people to acquire knowledge and skills which enable them to act within their communities in an environmentally responsible way. It enables people to shape their ethics and begin to appreciate what God has bestowed on mankind.

The need for Environmental Law Education.

There are various environmental problems which are faced by communities. Some of these problems require legal solutions, and those legal solutions should be known by the people who may need them. While there are various environmental issues that are regulated by law, people do not know or understand the laws that regulate those environmental problems. The most obvious environmental problems include, water pollution, air pollution, waste management, land degradation, deforestation, community rights over natural resources and issues of access and participation in environmental management by local communities. These are pertinent issues that are regulated by law.

The main challenge is how to create an environmental ethic for law enforcement and implementation. In this context therefore, the objectives of this initiative are to ensure that people understand and appreciate their rights and duties in relation to the environment. It is envisaged that through this process ZELA will contribute immensely to the change of ethics and attitudes of people towards the environment.

The underlying principles are to effectively communicate, educate and raise awareness on the new environmental laws to people in Zimbabwe’s urban and rural areas, to discuss with the communities how they can use the law to protect the environment, to advocate for a holistic approach to environmental management, to learn about the environmental interest of people and what they think about law and to facilitate exchange of environmental information, public participation and to enhance decision-making.

Strategies and Methods

ZELA is aware that people are not empty buckets that should be filled with information. As a result, a participatory approach has been adopted to ensure that the views, values and skills of people are reflected in all cases. The first strategy is to hold training workshops and seminars with community groups, individuals, local authorities and government departments and community based NGOs on the various legal instruments on environmental and natural resources management in different parts of the country. ZELA has held a number of training workshops and seminars on environmental laws in areas like Binga, Shurugwi and Harare.

The initiative was developed in such a way that it touches on issues like equality and gender mainstreaming in both urban areas and rural settings. A user friendly and summarized version of the Environmental Management Act has also been produced and translated into Shona and Ndebele. This is a way of bringing the law to the people in a language and form they understand. ZELA is also in the process of developing a compendium/compilation of environmental legislation applicable in Zimbabwe. In the same vein ZELA has developed promotional materials for environmental education and monthly press releases on topical environmental law issues.

What issues are covered?

ZELA has been defining the rights and duties of citizens, remedies for the aggrieved and penalties for non-compliance on environmental management. These are all issues covered in legislation such as the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27), Water Act (Chapter 20:24), Forest Act (Chapter 19:05), Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15), Public Health Act (Chapter 15:09) and the Class Actions Act (Chapter 8:17) among other pieces of legislation and regulations passed by different Ministries but with implications on the environment. Throughout this process the weaknesses and strengths of the current environmental laws will be pointed out for discussion with communities. Community groups and individuals are also informed about the process of using the court process in resolving environmental problems where necessary. The need to first try to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution before resorting to the court process is emphasised.

While in the process of informing people about their environmental rights, ZELA itself as a learning organisation will listen and seek to learn from the communities what they feel about the laws that regulate environmental issues. This stimulates dialogue on the relevance of environmental laws in Zimbabwe. In a nutshell, the guiding principles for this initiative are capacity building, empowerment, learning and participation.

Who benefits from this initiative?

The target groups for this project are the individuals in both rural and urban communities, the women and youths, NGOs and other associations, local authorities, industrialists, law enforcement agents, government departments and many others.

Conclusion

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association believes that the key to the implementation, improvement and sustainability of environmental laws and principles hinges on improving the capacity, training, and education of all stakeholders. This initiative will boost the access of the public to information on the environment and their participation in development-related issues as well as having access to the legal system. Thus ZELA is conscious of the fact that without effective communication and awareness campaigns through workshops and seminars, all the progressive features of the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) will go to waste.

Environmental Law Reform and Education Programme

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