The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has urged the youth to form their own environmental initiative group to help fight against environmental degradation caused by mining and other activities.
Presenting at this year’s Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) in Bulawayo EMA said it was of importance for the youth and children to be actively involved in preserving the future of the environment since they are the future.
The organisation said mining should follow environmental management strategies when doing their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports therefore the youth should also make sure that mining companies adhere to the environmental laws of the country.
It said the youth should ensure safety of the environment by creating environmental rehabilitation groups as well as ensuring that mining companies have an environmental rehabilitation plan.
“Mining companies should follow environmental management strategies in their EIA report. Waste (solid and effluent) and emissions suppression measures should always be in place. Rehabilitation of degraded areas should be done soon after the area is no longer being used. The youths must start their own environmental initiatives e.g. clean up groups, environmental youth networks, build a large social and environmental organisation,” EMA said.
Environmental laws
Section 73 of the constitution of Zimbabwe entrenches the environmental rights:
(1) every person has a right –
(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing
(b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that –
(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation
(ii) promote conservation
(iii)secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting economic and social development
(2) the state must take measures to achieve the realization of the rights of this section
- THIS IS ALSO FURTHER EXPLAINED IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT Cap 20.27, section 4 (1).
Environmental rights apply to and protect everyone including children.
Section 81 of the constitution, elaborates on the rights of children to non-discrimination, equal protection of the law, right to be heard, right to protection from economic exploitation, right to education, right to health services among others.
The duty to provide for and facilitate the right to an environment that is not harmful to the health or well-being of every person rests upon the state.
Also, non-state actors have a duty towards the implementation and fulfilment of these rights.
All non-state actors and all levels of government at the national, provincial and local levels have a constitutional duty to uphold and fulfil the environmental rights of children.
The environmental management act chapter 20.27 is the primary legislative instrument that provides for environmental management and governance.
The EM act Cap 20.27, provides general basic norms that may be used to introduce environmental legislation or to amend or maintain existing legislation
The EM act Cap 20.27, reflects what is in the constitution section 73, particularly, section 4 (1) of the act enshrines the right to a clean environment that is not harmful to health and the right to protection of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
It also provides for every citizen’s right to participate in the implementation of reasonable legislative policy and other measures to prevent pollution and environmental degradation.
Section 4 of the EM act, provides for the rights and principles of environmental management. E.g. Environmental management must place people and their needs at the forefront.
Section 4(1)(b) of the environmental management act provides that every person has a right to access environmental information.
Section 4(2)(d) provides that environmental education, environmental awareness and the sharing of knowledge must be promoted so as to increase the capacity of communities including children.
Youth Environmental participation
Environmental management agency has programs that involve the youth both in schools and out of schools. These include environmental clubs in schools, environmental debates and environmental competitions.
Environmental management agency has adopted the ‘catch them young initiative’, where all children are taken on board in environmental issues.
Children/ the youths are taking part in environmental programs such as clean-up campaigns and clean schools completions.
The youths and children in schools are also taking part in environmental projects such as nursery projects, waste management projects, plantations and orchard projects.