AT the ongoing 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) in Victoria Falls President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed grand ambitions for Zimbabwe’s environmental future—policy pronouncements that are often filled with lofty rhetoric about sustainability, climate resilience, and green development. Yet, these commitments, however well-intentioned, remain largely aspirational, as they are fundamentally undermined by the systemic dysfunctions of a linear economy model that continues to dominate the national development agenda.
The widening gap between policy ideals and practical implementation reflects not just administrative failure but a profound structural incapacity to transition towards sustainable economic governance.
Zimbabwe’s current socio-economic and environmental landscape is defined by chaos and disarray. The informal economy, which constitutes the backbone of livelihoods for the majority, operates almost entirely outside the purview of regulatory oversight.
This sector is a major contributor to environmental degradation, including unregulated waste disposal, illegal vending in ecologically sensitive zones, and non-compliance with waste separation or recycling norms.
The massive and unchecked use of plastic products, often imported cheaply and disposed of indiscriminately, continues to clog drainage systems and pollute ecosystems. Simultaneously, the proliferation of small-scale, so-called artisanal gold mining—frequently romanticised as “empowerment”—has left vast swathes of land scarred, rivers poisoned with mercury, and entire communities exposed to hazardous substances without redress or compensation.
Urban sprawl and rural settlement patterns reflect another dimension of the problem. The state’s failure to implement robust spatial planning has resulted in sprawling settlements that strain infrastructure, defy environmental zoning regulations, and contribute to unsustainable land use.
This is compounded by the widespread use of dangerous agrochemicals—particularly weed-killers—that contaminate soil and groundwater, undermining biodiversity and food security.
Adding insult to environmental injury is the increasing presence of large 4×4 vehicles, many of them fuel-guzzling luxury imports that contribute significantly to urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. These vehicles symbolise a culture of excess and entitlement, diametrically opposed to the principles of ecological sustainability that the government claims to embrace.Moreover, the lack of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system across government departments has perpetuated a paper-intensive, inefficient, and fragmented administrative system. This not only increases operational costs and delays but also generates avoidable waste—ironically, from a government that has repeatedly spoken of the need to reduce its environmental footprint.The Urgency of a Circular Economy Transition: Zimbabwe at a CrossroadsAgainst this backdrop, the need for Zimbabwe to transition from a linear economy—defined by extract-produce-consume-dispose—to a circular economy has never been more urgent.
The circular economy offers a transformative alternative model of production and consumption that is regenerative by design, aiming to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.Drawing on the principles espoused by theEllen MacArthur Foundation, the circular economy rests on three core pillars:Designing out waste and pollution: This entails rethinking product life cycles, encouraging eco-design, and enforcing producer responsibility legislation to ensure that waste is minimised at every stage.Keeping products and materials in use: Emphasis is placed on reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing—extending the useful life of materials and significantly reducing pressure on virgin resources.Regenerating natural systems: The circular economy recognises nature as a system to be restored, not exploited. This includes restoring degraded ecosystems, promoting organic agriculture, and replacing synthetic inputs with natural alternatives.Zimbabwe’s failure to institutionalise these principles stems from deep structural inefficiencies and a policy culture that treats environmental sustainability as peripheral to economic growth, rather than integral to it. There is a dire need for cross-sectoral coordination, particularly through digitalisation and integrated resource planning, to ensure that economic activities—from agriculture and mining to urban development—are aligned with circular principles.Institutional Reform: The Case for an Independent Environmental CommissionPerhaps one of the most glaring impediments to effective environmental governance in Zimbabwe is the institutional weakness of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
As a department within the Ministry of Environment, EMA lacks the autonomy, authority, and institutional integrity required to enforce environmental regulations without political interference.Zimbabwe urgently needs anindependent Environment Commission, established through an Act of Parliament, with constitutional backing and a clear mandate to regulate, monitor, and enforce environmental laws across both public and private sectors. Such a body should have prosecutorial powers, adequate funding, and professional independence to hold polluters accountable—regardless of their political or economic clout.The commission would also be better placed to coordinate national efforts towards the circular economy, working across ministries, local governments, and communities to establish robust frameworks for waste management, renewable energy adoption, eco-industrial parks, and sustainable procurement practices.Conclusion: Political Will, Not Just PolicyZimbabwe stands at an environmental inflection point. President Mnangagwa’s administration can no longer afford to espouse sustainability while governing through outdated, linear economic logics that extract value without accountability and generate waste without consequence.The rhetoric must give way to concrete action: robust environmental governance, a decisive shift to a circular economy grounded in the Ellen MacArthur framework, and the establishment of a truly independent environmental regulatory body.
Without these structural transformations, Zimbabwe’s environmental future will remain a mirage—discussed at summits, ignored in practice, and paid for by future generations.Spread the love
Adding insult to environmental injury is the increasing presence of large 4×4 vehicles, many of them fuel-guzzling luxury imports that contribute significantly to urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. These vehicles symbolise a culture of excess and entitlement, diametrically opposed to the principles of ecological sustainability that the government claims to embrace.
Moreover, the lack of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system across government departments has perpetuated a paper-intensive, inefficient, and fragmented administrative system. This not only increases operational costs and delays but also generates avoidable waste—ironically, from a government that has repeatedly spoken of the need to reduce its environmental footprint.
Against this backdrop, the need for Zimbabwe to transition from a linear economy—defined by extract-produce-consume-dispose—to a circular economy has never been more urgent.
The circular economy offers a transformative alternative model of production and consumption that is regenerative by design, aiming to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
Drawing on the principles espoused by theEllen MacArthur Foundation, the circular economy rests on three core pillars:
Designing out waste and pollution: This entails rethinking product life cycles, encouraging eco-design, and enforcing producer responsibility legislation to ensure that waste is minimised at every stage.
Keeping products and materials in use: Emphasis is placed on reuse, repair, refurbishment, and remanufacturing—extending the useful life of materials and significantly reducing pressure on virgin resources.
Regenerating natural systems: The circular economy recognises nature as a system to be restored, not exploited. This includes restoring degraded ecosystems, promoting organic agriculture, and replacing synthetic inputs with natural alternatives.
Zimbabwe’s failure to institutionalise these principles stems from deep structural inefficiencies and a policy culture that treats environmental sustainability as peripheral to economic growth, rather than integral to it. There is a dire need for cross-sectoral coordination, particularly through digitalisation and integrated resource planning, to ensure that economic activities—from agriculture and mining to urban development—are aligned with circular principles.
Perhaps one of the most glaring impediments to effective environmental governance in Zimbabwe is the institutional weakness of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
As a department within the Ministry of Environment, EMA lacks the autonomy, authority, and institutional integrity required to enforce environmental regulations without political interference.
Source: Thezimbabwemail
