Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe has ratified the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Environmental Management for Sustainable Development which seeks to promote sustainable utilisation and transboundary management of the environment and natural resources.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said this during this week’s post-cabinet media briefing.

He said the protocol was approved following a presentation by Attorney General, Virginia Mabiza.

The protocol establishes principles derived from the Rio Declaration on sustainable development which include, cooperation in good faith among State Parties, sovereign rights of State Parties to use their resources, participation of all interested parties in environmental governance, resolution of differences amicably, placing people’s needs at the centre of development, precautionary approach, polluter pays principle and extended producer responsibility among others.

Dr Muswere said the protocol applies to all State Party activities relating to environmental management. Among others, the protocol places obligations on State Parties to institute measures to manage and control transboundary effects of air pollution, manage and control transboundary impacts of waste and chemicals, combat desertification and land degradation and implement sustainable land management practices and mitigate adverse environmental impacts on marine and coastal environments as well as inland water resources.

For Zimbabwe, the protocol is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) pillar on environmental protection, climate resilience and sustainable natural resources management, and its ratification is expected to enhance cooperation with other SADC member states.

New Ziana