FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
MODULE
:
GES 108
QUESTION
: Agenda 21
LECTURER
: MR MARAMBANYIKA
Agenda 21 was a special product of the Earth Summit which was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
(1992).This summit was to set out an ambitious agenda to address the environmental , economic ,and
social challenges facing the international community .It was an unprecedential , opportunity for the
Global heads to sit across the negotiation table and find collective solutions to issues pertinent to the
present and future generations .Governments officials from 178 countries and between 20 000 and 30
000 individuals from governments ,NGOs and the media participated in this event to discuss
solutions for global problems such as poverty war or the growing gap between industrialized and
developing countries .They were five agreements agreed on the 1992 earth summit which are
•
Agenda 21
•
Rio declaration on environment and development
•
Statement of principals on forests
•
Framework convention on climate change
•
Convention on Biological diversity
What is Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally ,nationally , locally by organizations of
the United Nations Systems ,governments and major groups in every area in which humans impact
the environment .The document contains 40 chapters and covers four major aspects of sustainable
development ,social and economic dimensions , conservation lpol and management of resources for
development , strengthening the role of major groups and means of implementation ,Related topics
are thematically grouped in clusters .According to Walker (2002) Agenda 21 addresses the pressing
problems of today and also aims at preparing the world for the challenges of the next century .It
reflects
a global consensus and political commitment at highest
level
on development
and
environment cooperation .Its successful implementations is first and foremost the responsibility of
governments , National strategies plans policies and processes
are crucial in achieving this
,according to Reddish (1996) Agenda 21 is a vast work program for the 21st century , approved by
consensus among the world leaders in Brazil , representing over 98 percent of the world’s
population .This historic document 700 pages long and embraces all areas of sustainable development
.A comprehensive blueprint for a global partnership .Agenda 21 strives to reconcile the twin
requirements of a high quality environment and health economy for all people of the world while ,
identifying key areas of responsibility as well as offering preliminary cost estimates for success .
OBJECTIVES OF AGENDA 21
They are about 32 objectives of Agenda 21, below are some of the objectives
•
Sustainable development in School Curriculum is one of the 32 specific objectives of Agenda 21
.This objective has been achieved in 63percent of the participating nations ,and in process in
another 70percent in America
•
To implement policies and strategies that promote adequate levels of funding and focus on
integrated human development policies, including income generation, increased local control of
resources, local institution-strengthening and capacity-building and greater involvement of
non-governmental organizations and local levels of government as delivery mechanisms;
•
To create a focus in national development plans and budgets on investment in human capital,
with special policies and programmes directed at rural areas, the urban poor, women and
children.
•
To develop a domestic policy framework that will encourage a shift to more sustainable
patterns of production and consumption
•
The objective is to enable all countries, in particular those that are disaster-prone, to mitigate
the negative impact of natural and man-made disasters on human settlements, national
economies and the environment.
•
Promote good general health among people of all ages
•
Protection of the environment and safeguarding of health through the integrated management
of water resources and liquid and solid wastes;
•
Developing and applying new analytical and predictive tools in order to assess more accurately
the ways in which the Earth's natural systems are being increasingly influenced by human
actions, both deliberate and inadvertent, and demographic trends, and the impact and
consequences of those actions and trends;
Agenda 21 is clusted into four sections
SECTIONS
CHAPTERS
SECTION 1
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS
SECTION 2
CONSERVATION
AND
MANAGEMENT
2 to 8
OF
RESOURCES
FOR 9 to 22
DEVELOPMENT
SECTION 3
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS
23 to 32
SECTION 4
MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION
33 to 40
CHAPTER 1
PREAMBLE
The preamble includes two significant general points:
1)Its successful implementation is first and foremost the responsibility of Governments so recognizing
the status of existing sovereign states with all their conflicts and instabilities .However these shall be
supported and supplemented both by larger groupings such as the UN and other international and
regional organization and by more local participation of the public nongovernmental organization
and other groups .Much of what follows grapples with mechanisms for achieving this. While Sections
1,2 and 4 may reflect the more usual concerns of international bodies and negotiations the inclusion
of section 3 on major groups perhaps reflects a stronger role for local consultation than has been
seen previously
2) The objectives will require a substantial flow of new and additional financial resources to developing
countries a fundamental issue about the world economic order that was much debated at Rio and
remains contentious.
CHAPTER 2
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO ACCELERATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES AND RELATED DOMESTIC POLICIES
This chapter calls for global partnership to provide a dynamic and growing
world economy based on
an open ,equitable secure nondiscriminatory and predictable multilateral trading system in which
commodity exports of the developing countries can find markets of fair prices free of tariff and nontariff barriers .In order to meet the challenges of environmental and development states have
decided to establish a new global partnership. This partnership commits all States to engage in a
continuous and constructive dialogue, inspired by the need to achieve a more efficient and equitable
world economy, keeping in view the increasing interdependence of the community of nations and that
sustainable development should become a priority item on the agenda of the international community.
It is recognized that, for the success of this new partnership, it is important to overcome confrontation
and to foster a climate of genuine cooperation and solidarity. It is equally important to strengthen
national and international policies and multinational cooperation to adapt to the new realities.
Glasbergen (1995)
CHAPTER 3
COMBATING POVERTY
Enabling the poor to achieve sustainable livelihoods, Suggests that factors creating policies of
development, resource management, and poverty be integrated. This objective is to be sought by
improving access of the poor to education and healthcare, to safe water and sanitation, and to
resources, especially land; by restoration of degraded resources; by empowerment of the
disadvantaged, especially women, youth, and indigenous people their communities , Promoting or
establishing grass roots mechanisms to allow for the sharing of experience and knowledge between
communities , Giving communities a larger measure of participation in the sustainable management
and protection of the local natural resources in order to enhance their productive capacity
.Establishing a network of community based learning Centres for capacity building and sustainable
development
CHAPTER 4
CHANGING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS
According to Findlay (1996) "One of the most serious problems now facing the planet is that associated
with historical patterns of unsustainable consumption, and production, particularly in the industrialized
countries.”Social research and policy should bring forward new concepts of status and lifestyles which
are "less dependent on the Earth's finite resources and more in harmony with its carrying capacity."
Greater efficiency in the use of energy and resources--for example, reducing wasteful packaging of
products- Since the issue of changing consumption patterns is very broad ,it is addressed in several
parts of Agenda 21 , notable these dealing with energy transportation and wastes and in chapters on
economic instruments and the transfer of technology
CHAPTER 5
DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Urges governments to develop and implement population policies integral with their economic
development programs. Health services should "include women-centered, women-managed, safe and
effective reproductive health care and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for the
responsible planning of family size..." Health services are to emphasize reduction of infant death rates
which converge with low birth rates to stabilize world population at a sustainable number at the end of
the century.
CHAPTER 6
PROTECTING AND PROMOTING HUMAN HEALTH
Health and development are intimately interconnected. Both insufficient development leading to
poverty and inappropriate development resulting in overconsumption, coupled with an expanding world
population, can result in severe environmental health problems in both developing and developed
nations. Action items under Agenda 21 must address the primary health needs of the
world's
population, since they are integral to the achievement of the goals of sustainable development
and
primary environmental care. The linkage of health, environmental and socio-economic improvements
requires intersectoral efforts. Such efforts, involving education, housing, public works and community
groups, including businesses, schools and universities and religious, civic and cultural organizations are
aimed at enabling people in their communities to ensure sustainable development. Particularly relevant
is the inclusion of prevention programs rather than relying solely on remediation and treatment.
Countries ought to develop plans for priority actions, drawing on the program areas in this chapter,
which are based on cooperative planning by the various levels of government, non-governmental
organizations and local communities. An appropriate international organization, such a s WHO, should
coordinate these activities.
CHAPTER 7
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT
Addresses the full range of issues facing urban-rural settlements, including: access to land, credit, and
low-cost building materials by homeless poor and unemployed;
upgrading of slums to ease the deficit
in urban shelter; access to basic services of clean water, sanitation, and waste collection; use of
appropriate construction materials, designs, and technologies; increased use of high-occupancy public
transportation and bicycle and foot paths; reduction of long-distance commuting; support for the
informal economic sector; development of urban renewal projects in partnership with nongovernmental organizations; improved rural living conditions and land-use planning to prevent urban
sprawl onto agricultural land and fragile regions.
CHAPTER 8
INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN DECISION-MAKING
This chapter contains the following program areas:
a. Integrating environment and development at the policy, planning and management levels;
b. Providing an effective legal and regulatory framework;
c. Making effective use of economic instruments and market and other incentives;
d. Establishing systems for integrated environmental and economic accounting.
Calls on governments to create sustainable development strategies to integrate social and
environmental policies in all ministries and at all levels, including fiscal measures and the budget
SECTION 2
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES
The environment itself is the subject of chapters 9 through 22, dealing with the conservation and
management of resources
CHAPTER 9
PROTECTING THE ATMOSPHERE
Urges constrain and efficiency in energy production and consumption, development of renewable
energy sources; and promotion of mass transit technology and access to developing countries.
Conservation and expansion of "all sinks for greenhouse gases" is extolled ,and trans boundary pollution
recognized as "subject to international controls." Governments need to develop more precise ways of
predicting levels of atmospheric pollutants; modernize existing power systems to gain energy efficiency;
and increase energy efficiency education and labeling programs.
CHAPTER 10
MANAGING LAND SUSTAINABLY
Land is normally defined as a physical entity in terms of its topography and spatial nature; a broader
integrative view also includes natural resources: the soils, minerals, water and biota that the land
comprises. These components are organized in ecosystems which provide a variety of services essential
to the maintenance of the integrity of life-support systems and the productive capacity of the
environment.
CHAPTER 11
COMBATING DEFORESTATION
Calls for concerted international research and conservation efforts to control harvesting afforests and
"uncontrolled degradation and conversion to other types of land use," to develop the values of standing
forests under sustained cultivation by indigenous technologies and agroforestry, and to expand the
shrunken world-forest cover. Governments, along with business ,nongovernmental and other groups
should: plant more forests to reduce pressure on primary and old-growth forests; breed trees that are
more productive and resistant to stress; protect forests and reduce pollutants that affect them,
including air pollution that flows across borders; limit and aim to halt destructive shifting cultivation by
addressing the underlying social and ecological causes; use environmentally sound, more efficient and
less polluting methods of harvesting; minimize wood waste; promote small-scale enterprises; develop
urban forestry for the greening of all places where people live; and encourage low-impact forest use and
sustainable management of areas adjacent to forests.
CHAPTER 14
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
A very long chapter on agriculture , reflects conflicting concerns about intensive agriculture and
environmental degradation versus hunger , oversupply , trade and price support (Sarre and Blunden
1996)
CHAPTER 15 and CHAPTER 16
CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
This chapter
reiterates the provision of the biodiversity convention separately agreed while the
discussion of biotechnology in the chapter 16 goes beyond the Convention in its recommendations on
food production , health , solutions to environmental problems and safety
CHAPTER 17
PROTECTING AND MANAGING THE OCEANS
It’s a long and complex chapter on oceans ,seas and coastal waters extends the provisions UNICLOS
whilst CHAPTER 18 fresh water draws on the conclusions of 1992 Dublin conference about integrated
water management , safe drinking , water sanitation , resource assessment , and urban rural supply.
CHAPTER 19 to 22
Four aspects of waste management are covered in the final chapters of section 2 on toxic chemicals,
hazardous waste , solid waste and sewage ,,and radioactive waste ( Some of these issues were
introduced in BLUNDEN and REDDISH 1996)Together the chapters of this section cover a formidable
range of environmental concerns and provide a wide array of separate management proposals
.What is perhaps missing is any sense of the Earth as an integrated single system , whether in the
natural links between physical and biological processes ( such as are being studied in the
international Geosphere ,Biosphere Program ) in the total impact of an increasingly globalized human
society ( such as was investigated in the Limits to growth and later models )
SECTION 3
This section has a rather different flavor of the others , with their emphasis on governmental and
international institutions .Pressure from NGOs was influential in ensuring its inclusion , and its
presence does oblige governments to be more open in their planning and information disclosure
than might otherwise have been the case
PREAMBLE
The Preamble emphasizes the importance of widespread consultation in all decision making on
environment and development issues, It represent s something of a triumph that the principle of
participatory democracy seems to have been acknowledged even by those countries which do not
practice it.
CHAPTER 24 to 26
In chapter 24 ,women comprise half population and from Africa farmers to Gro Brundtland clearly
have major effects on both environment and development issues , nevertheless they are poorly
presented in the hierarchical governments structures of the developed world .This chapter looked
forward to the 1995 Beij conference and a review in the year 2000 of the 1979 convention on the
elimination of all forms of discrimination against women ,Children and youth are similarly members of
all human societies and should go without saying that their welfare ,education and future experience
are interwoven with our environment concerns and development decisions. In the case of indigenous
peoples CHAPTER 26 turns to a threatened minority of the human population , ruthlessly pushed aside
by earlier development this chapter belatedly acknowledges their rights , the value of their cultures
and their relationship with the local environment With NGOs the groups concerned are extremely
diverse , from small local societies to powerful and highly organized international movements .
CHAPTER 27
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS: PARTNERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Acknowledges their right to information, consultation and contribution to decision making
CHAPTER 28
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
,in local authorities we recognize part of formal governmental structures worldwide though of varying
power and influence .This chapter specifically proposed consultation and planning to arrive at a local
Agenda 21 consensus by 1996
CHAPTER 29
WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS
Workers and trade unions are categories with powerful reasonances in the industrial societies of
the North as are business and industry with traditions of confrontation and formerly , little regard for
environmental questions ,particularly on the global scale. How the proposals for the consultation and
largely voluntary initiatives (like the International Chamber of commerce Business charter for
Sustainable Development or the chemical industry ,s responsible Care Scheme )will fare in a world of
transnational corporations , lightning movements of capital and extreme diversity of industrial
culture , remains to be seen.
CHAPTER 30
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
The absence of proposals for more formal regulation of international business was seen by many
environmentalists as a major gap in Rio outcome ,though this no doubt reflected what was thought to
be realistically possible at present .
CHAPTER 31
SCIENTISTS AND TECHNOLOGISTS
The scientific and technological
community evidently
has a major
impact on the course
of
development and its environmental effects and is urged to contribute more open debate and
decision making the linkage of science and technology may be unfortunate as implying greater
identity between them than many practicing scientists ,engineers and entrepreneurs would accept
but greater transparency in the influence of expert groups can only be desirable
CHAPTER 32
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF FARMERS
Finally this chapter on farmers emphasizes that the development of sustainable agriculture will
require decentralization of decision making and consultation with rural people working in farming
(also fishing and forestry ) and the organization.
SECTION 4
The final section includes many of the most contentions and disputed areas .The first two chapters on
financial resources and technology transfer were key issues for the developing countries. The costs of
carrying out the various chapters of Agenda 21 had been estimated by the UN Secretariat at about $600
billion per year ,of which about $125 billion per year would need to be provided to developing
countries in grants or concessional loans. This last figure is more than twice the current Official
Development Assistance (ODV) from developed to developing countries though close to the existing
official UN target for the richer countries to transfer 0,7% of their GDP (in 1994 this proportion was
only exceeded by the Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands the UK figure was about 0,3% and
the US below 0,2% ) in any case such aid is often more than compensated by the flow of capital in
the reverse direction as debt repayments .There was bitter conflict over this target the timetable for
achieving it and the mechanisms for administering it. It was provisionally agreed that the recently
established Global Environment Facility (GEF) should be used but only on condition that it was
restructured to be outside the control of the World Bank as it was at that time .
CHAPTER 35 and 36
In contrast ,the chapters on Science and Education were uncountentious, That on science evidently
overlaps one of the major groups chapters 31 neither mentions the Secretary General,s proposal for an
Earth Council of independent experts ,though supporting independent advisory groups in general.
CHAPTER 37and 38
These chapters are important complementary ones , on the need for national and international
institutional arrangements respectively .On the national scale a timetable for review , reporting and
international cooperation on capacity building was agreed .This abstract sounding term recurs
frequently in Agenda 21 and refers to the ways in which individual countries will plan for sustainable
development and monitor environmental impact by institutions of all kinds from government and
NGOs to business , universities and research Centre’s , comparison with the methods of other
countries will be helpful .Internationally , the role of existing UN agencies was reviewed and perhaps
most important a new Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was set up with the twin tasks
of coordinating international
efforts and reviewing national plans for sustainable development
.There was resistance to the obligatory submission of national plans for sustainable development.
CHAPTER 39 and 40
The final chapters of Agenda 21 on legal instruments and information for decision making , again
included important provisions about the need for international environmental standards and
national indicators of sustainable development which if they can evolve to replace Gross National
Products (GNP)\ Gross Domestic Product(GDP) as measure of national prosperity ,may have a major
long term influence .
ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO AGENDA 21
In 1987 Zimbabwe developed the National Conservation Strategy which attempted to document the
development and environmental pressures facing the nation and to set a course for building capacity to
manage those issues. This led to Zimbabwe’s participation in the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil 1992. Soon after the Earth
Summit, Zimbabwe held a national conference which was meant to respond to the Earth Summit and
the main objective was to come up with a national strategy meant to implement what was agree on, in
the Rio declaration which includes Agenda 21. Hence this document seeks to reveal what has been done
by Zimbabwe as a response to Agenda 21 and how successful it has been in Zimbabwe.
First and foremost it is of great importance to note that Zimbabwe is a member of Southern African
Developing countries (SADC) and Common Market area for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) at
regional level and at international level, Zimbabwe is a member of Convection on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), World Trade Organization (WTO) and United
Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD). This is a clear indication of Zimbabwe’s
response to chapter 2 of Agenda 21 which encourages on international co-operation to accelerate
sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies.
Furthermore Zimbabwe introduced the Poverty Alleviation Action Plan (PAAP) which was meant to
address chapter 3 of Agenda 21 which encouraged on combating poverty. This was meant to invest in
people through social expenditures, decentralized decision making so that the poor can also effectively
participate, empowerment of beneficiaries through participatory methods and recognition of expertise
and knowledge, so as to move the poor from welfare to income earning productivity. This was fully
supported by other programs like the Community Development Program which provided direct financial
assistance to communities. The government also introduced the Land Resettlement Program in 1983
which was meant to promote agriculture, this was later changed to Land Reform Program in March 2000
which saw land under agriculture being increased. Apart from the Land Reform Program, Zimbabwe also
introduced the Rural Water for Irrigation program and the Rural Electrification program so as to improve
agricultural productivity, as a way of eradicating poverty in rural areas.
Apart from efforts being made to eradicate poverty, Zimbabwe has also put in place measures meant to
address chapter 4 and 5 of Agenda 21, which emphasizes on the need to change consumption patterns
and demographic dynamics for sustainable development. Basically these 2 chapters are mainly
concerned with the relationship between population and resources and as a response, Zimbabwe
introduced the Food and Food Standard Act
and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe which is
responsible for the monitoring and control of any food meant for human consumption. Zimbabwe also
put in place the Zimbabwe National Population Policy (1996) which was generally concerned with
population and education, youth and adolescents, population and legal reforms, population aging in
Zimbabwe, gender inequalities, population and environment, reproductive health, adolescent fertility
and sexual behavior in Zimbabwe and last but not least, mortality health. These were all means of using
a multidisciplinary approach to population regulation in Zimbabwe as a response to the Agenda 21.
Agenda 21 also encourages on the need for the protection and promotion of human health, this led to
the adoption of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in 1994. This was meant to assess any
developmental projects before being carried out so as to reduce environmental damaged which also
includes health hazards of any project and coming up with alternatives meant to reduce the impact of
the project to humans and the environment. Apart from the EIA, Zimbabwe also introduced a National
Policy called Equity In Health which emphasized on the need for delivery primary health care, which
includes education concerning prevailing health problems and methods to prevent or to control them,
promotion of food supply and proper nutrition, adequate supply of safe water, maternal and child
health care, prevention of endemic diseases and provision of essential drugs. The National Rural Water
Supply and Sanitation Policy (NRWSS) was put in place to promote health life styles in rural areas, this
saw the construction of boreholes, deep wells and Blair toilets in most rural areas so as to promote basic
hygiene and prevent diseases.
Zimbabwe introduced the Land Reform and Distribution Policy (2000) as a response to chapter seven of
agenda 21 which encourages on improving human settlement. According to Booth (2003) land
degradation which being experienced in most developing countries is a result of unfair distribution of
land resources which was created by the discriminatory policies of the colonial government, meant to
undermine blacks. Apart from the LRDP, the government has also made efforts to construct houses in
both urban and rural areas so as to improve human settlement in Zimbabwe. This saw the construction
of service center in most rural areas so as to reduce population pressure in urban areas through rural to
urban migration. In urban areas operations like Garikai hlalani kahle were carried out which left quit a
huge number of once homeless Zimbabweans with their own descent houses.
Apart from the above, Agenda 21 also emphasized on the need to integration of environment and
development in decision making (Chapter 8) which requires full participation of every stakeholders. This
was introduced after the realization that most developing countries rarely provide resources for
marginally settled communities to fully manage the environment resulting in unsustainable
management of the environment Blackmore (1996). Zimbabwe as a nation introduced the Genesis of
decentralization in 1975 which was later on fully initiated as a response to the requirements of chapter
8. The decentralization policy was meant to encourage local people to fully participate in environmental
management through making their own environment al decisions making instead of taking issues to
higher levels since they are the ones who know their environment better than anyone. This saw the
development of programs meant to ensure full participation of the local people, this include the
Communal Area Management Program for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE), National Environmental
Plan (NEP) , Local Environment Action Plan (LEAP) and the District Environment Action Plan (DEAP).
Moving on to Section 2 of the Agenda 21 which is mainly concerned with the conservation and
management of resources for development led the adoption of User Pays Principle (UPP) and the
Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) by Zimbabwe as a response to chapter 9, 11 and 13 of Agenda 21 which
encourages on the need to protect the atmosphere, combating deforestation and management of
fragile ecosystems combating desertification and drought. This was meant to reduce atmospheric
pollution through the use of charges meant to reduce the amount of toxic gases emitted into the
atmosphere especially by industries and also through the protection of Forests which help in the clean
of the atmosphere through the issuing of charges to any one involved in any activities which might
pollute the environment so as to use the money to compensate for what has been lost in the
environment. On the other hand, Zimbabwe adopted Indigenous Knowledge Systems which involves the
conservation of natural resources by means of full participatory approach to the development of
effective sustainable utilization of natural resources in the sense that it incorporates indigenous people
who have the valid and valuable input about the local environment and the resources available in the
area. The Forestry Commission and the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management were put in
place to carry out the above.
Chapter 10 and 14 encourages on the need for an integrated approach to the planning and management
of land resources and promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development. Land authorities in
Zimbabwe which includes Rural District Councils, Urban Councils, the Forestry Commission, Department
of National Parks and Wildlife Management and private landowners are responsible for the
management of land resources in Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism currently has an
interim EIA which ensures that the potential and known ecological, cultural, social and economic
impacts resulting from land and water use are minimized or rather eliminated. The District
Environmental Action Plan (DEAP) is a locally-based initiative which uses horizontal communication
systems and empowers grassroots communities in planning and decision making regarding their human
and natural resource need. In agriculture the government of Zimbabwe helps the development of
sustainable agriculture through Agritex which provides land capability classification for land use plans at
farm, village, communal, district and regional level. This allows farmers and communities to make
informed decisions on sustainable, viable and optimum land use system. Agricultural Research
Development Association (ARDA) has the mandate to implement agricultural and rural development
programs aimed at improving the livelihood of small scale farmers, Integrated Rural Development
Program in Masvingo and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Program in the Eastern Highlands promote
conservation, economic and social impact are incorporated and closely monitored.
The National Biodiversity Action Plan which was launched in 1998, deals with the protection of
biodiversity, derives its origin from chapter 15 of Agenda 21 which encourages on conservation of
biological diversity. Zimbabwe is a member of the Convection on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and flora (CTES) which is response for the monitoring of the trade of any species which is
perceived endangered for example elephants and rhinos in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe there are Wildlife
state land, Botanical Reserves and Gardens meant to conserver flora and fauna species from extinction.
The gardens includes ecological units representing all major types of vegetation in Zimbabwe with over
1000 tree and shrub species collected from different parts of the country. These are mainly operated by
the Forestry Commission, for example it owns a herbarium at Chirinda Forest as well as a number of
green banks meant to conserve the country’s natural vegetation. In addition there is the Common Areas
Management Program (CAMPFIRE) encourages the development of local institutions for the
management and sustainable utilization of communal wildlife resources through the inclusion of local
people in the management of these resources since they are the ones who use them on a day to day
bases. Apart from the above Zimbabwe also signed the Convection on Biological Diversity in 1992 on the
very some Earth Summit and this can also be included as Zimbabwe’s effort to fulfill the requirements of
Agenda 21.
Zimbabwe has also made efforts to address chapters 24, 25 and 26 which encourages on the need to
strengthen the role of indigenous people especially women and children for sustainable development
since these groups are the ones who closely work with the environment especially in rural areas. Thus
the country setup a national mechanism in the Ministry of National Affairs and Empowerment Creation
to spearhead the incorporation of gender issues in development, this led to the inclusion of women in
decision making for example the vice president of Zimbabwe is a women (Cde Joyce Mujuru). This was
meant to provide a broad framework for the promotion of gender equality in all dimensions which
include the social, political, legal and economic spheres of Zimbabwe. Apart from women Zimbabwe has
also made an effort in empowering children and youth through the Ministry of Youth and Development
through the establishment of processes that promote dialogue between the youth and government at
all levels and mechanisms that permit youth access to information and opportunity.
Furthermore Agenda 21 encourages on the need to strengthen the role of Non governmental
Organizations (NGOs). Thus Zimbabwe has been implementing a number of programs aimed at
rehabilitating degraded environments. These include rural afforestation, the provision of local level
incentives through value addition to various natural resources, veld restoration through grazing
schemes, and mechanical conservation works, these have made possible by the involvement of NGOs.
For example in Chiendambuya in Rusape the practice has been undertaken by the Forestry Commission
in syndicate some NGOs, for example the Christian Care spearheaded this Rural Afforastation Program
with financial support. Apart from rural areas NGOs are also playing an important role in urban areas,
which are basically aimed n eradicating poverty. These include borehole sinking meant to eradicate
poverty through agricultural projects such as vegetable gardens. NGOs have been partners of the
government in producing reports on national inventories required under the United Nations Frame
Work on Climate Change and assisted also in the development of methodologies for costing greenhouse
gases emissions. The government has also strengthened the role of NGOs through recognition of NGO
coordinating bodies like Environmental Forum of Zimbabwe and the government has also signed
financial agreements donors on behalf of NGOs. However these NGOs have strongly criticized for
undermining the political will of Zimbabwe through being involved in politics in steady of playing their
own role of assisting in environmental management. Generally much has been done in Zimbabwe to
strengthen the role of major groups which includes NGOs, farmers, science and technology, women,
children, local authorities and any other groups which are directly or indirectly involved in the
management of the environment, through financial assistance.
All the above has been made or was supposed to be made possible by following or rather Zimbabwe’s
response to section 4 of the Agenda 21 which(chapters 33 to 40) is made up of chapters which
encourages on the national government’s involvement in environmental management through financial
assistance. Thus the budget of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has to be taken into full
consideration so as to promote all its programs.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21 IN ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe has however faced challenges in the implementation of Agenda 21, due to the following
problems:
•
Mismanagement of funds in which funds meant for the implementation of Agenda 21 are
channeled to rather political and economic activities which has nothing to do with the environment. This
also includes corruption in which individuals or boards actually use these funds for their own benefits at
the expense of the environment.
•
Apart from the mismanagement of funds, Zimbabwe also failed to implement Agenda 21 due to
shortage of funds in which there are no funds to fully initiate some of the programs. For example most
rural areas in Zimbabwe are still not electrified due to shortage of funds to implement the rural
electrification program.
•
Some of the programs or strategies which are being used actually solve other problems at the
same time introducing problems to the environment. For example the Land Reform Program was meant
to solve the problem of human settlement and poverty but however resulted in serious biodiversity loss
through clearing of land for both settlement and agricultural productivity.
•
Political will has also resulted in the failing of implementing Agenda 21 in which Zimbabwe as a
developing country has also failed to reduce its industrial emissions so as to industrialize.
REFERENCE LIST
C. Lopes (1996) Balancing Rocks Environment and Development in Zimbabwe, SAPES Books, and Harare.
R.Attflied (1999) The ethics of the global environment ,Edinburgh University Press, London.
J. Voger and M.F. Lamber (1996) The Environment and International Relations, The Open University,
London.
P. Glasbergen and Blowers (1995) Environmental Policy in International Context Perspectives, Open
University of the Netherlands, London.
P. J Spong, V. Booth and B. Walmsely (2003) Country chapter on Zimbabwe in ‘’EIA in Southern Africa’’.
Southern Africa Institute for Environmental Assessment, Windhoek, pp297-325.
R. Blackmore and A. Reddish (1996) Global Environmental Issues, The Open University, London.
R. Attflied (1999) The Ethics of the Global Environment, Endinburgh University Press, London.
T. A. S Bowyer (1995) Bower Department of Geography School of Oriental and African Studies,
University of London, Rusell Square, London.
J. Walker (2002) Local Governments Response to Agenda 21, Hambly and Woodley Inc, Toronto Canada
K.Brown (1997) Development and the Environment‘Rio plus five”Jounal of international development
9,3