Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and their role in the energy and power sector in Zimbabwe

Text by Michael Nott

The Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe (EMA) is, according to their website, “a statutory body responsible for ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment, the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation, the preparation of Environmental Plans for the management and protection of the environment. It was established under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and enacted in 2002.” It’s a parastatal entity that is part of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate. It became fully operational in 2007 after the Department of Natural Resources and the environmental sections of

ZINWA (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) were merged to create a single entity. Its mandate is to oversee the sustainable management of natural resources while protecting the environment for both humans and wildlife, prevent pollution of the air, water and soil of Zimbabwe and prevent land degradation while promoting sustainable agricultural and industrial practices. Part of EMA’s mission is to commission and review Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) usually carried out by approved and independent environmental consultants such as Environmental Guardians Services, Green Space and Black Crystal. the tourism industry and the effects on the wildlife associated with the river –fish, birds and other flora and fauna. However, ESIAs were conducted on the mini-hydropower projects in the Eastern Highlands which were deemed to be minimally detrimental to the environment as well as very beneficial for the local community providing access to electricity, job opportunities and infrastructure development.

Zimbabwe has recently embarked on The Emergency Power Infrastructure

Rehabilitation Project Phase II (EPIRP II) which has seen the refurbishment of the Hwange Power Station, as well as number of other much smaller power generating stations across the country. EMA has conducted an extensive ESIA covering all aspects of the project.

These are just a very few of the projects that EMA would oversee and monitor in the energy and power sector but they illustrate the importance of EMA in safeguarding the environment now and for future generations.