Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HARARE, Apr.16 (NewsDayLive) – The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has called for the establishment of a green bench to enhance delivery of environmental justice in the country.
The green bench, according to participants, would entail setting up of specialised environmental courts to handle sophisticated environmental cases.
This comes at a time when environmental issues have become topical globally due to climate change issues.
Reports presented at the research symposium, conducted by Ema in collaboration with various institutions, underscored the interconnectedness of environmental issues, ranging from the health risks associated with inadequate solid waste management to the complex interplay between climate change, water availability, and women’s rights.
Different research papers presented touched on solid waste management leading to exposure to diseases, climate change and women, displacements due to rural-urban development and environmental rights as enshrined under section 73 of the national Constitution.
Hazel Chimbiro from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) said despite the recognition of environmental rights in the constitution, the country is yet to put these rights into practice.
“Zimbabwe like many countries around the globe, has a constitution that recognizes environmental rights as human rights,” Chimbiro said.
“This is further supported by the Environmental Management Act [20:27] which also provides for environmental rights.
“It has been more than a decade since the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment was adopted.”
She emphasised the critical need for legal reforms, including the establishment of a dedicated environmental court and specialised judges to handle complex environmental cases.
The absence of such a court, in contrast to neighboring countries like Kenya, has hindered the effective enforcement of environmental laws and the dispensation of justice in environmental disputes.
“The enabling legal framework to assert rights for enabling communities is there in the constitution under a section, which makes sure that environmental justice and equity is realized.
“Countries like Kenya have environmental courts, we have a legal framework so we just need to promote legal empowerment because usually environmental cases are trivialized,” she said.
The symposium also highlighted that Zimbabwe, like many nations globally, is grappling with the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss, and pollution.
These crises directly and indirectly impact fundamental human rights, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the constitution’s role in promoting environmental justice and equity.
“Promoting environmental justice and equity requires creating enabling legal frameworks that respect, protect and fulfil environmental rights, strengthening people-centered and effective institutions and increasing access to justice and legal empowerment in environmental and climate change matters,” Chimbiro added.
“No single group or community should be at a disadvantage in dealing with hazardous environmental exposures or natural disasters, regardless of their social position.
“All people and communities have the right to live and thrive in safe, healthy environments with equal environmental protections and meaningful involvement in these actions.”
Ema also highlighted that the country’s biodegradable waste levels were too high.
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