The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela), a public-interest environmental law organisation, joined the world in commemorating World Environment Day on June 5.
This year’s theme is a call to action for individuals, organisations, corporations, and governments worldwide to find solutions to reduce plastic consumption and promote sustainable alternatives.
The commemoration’s focus is on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign theme #BeatPlasticPollution.
The campaign #BeatPlasticPollution comes in the wake of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA): End Plastic Pollution: Towards an Internationally Legally Binding Instrument.
As we commemorated this significant day, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and world leaders had just completed the second session of the negotiations of the Plastic Pollution Treaty in Paris, France, which took place from May 29 to June 2, 2023.
The Pollution Treaty being negotiated is expected to create legally binding obligations for states to have legislation that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics, including plastic production, design, and disposal, innovative solutions, products, and materials.
Importantly, once adopted, the treaty will be the first multilateral environmental agreement to specifically deal with this planetary crisis.
Further, the treaty is expected to promote sustainable production and consumption of plastics, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12.
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Plastic pollution (objects and particles) in the environment is a significant environmental challenge and is driving the triple planetary crisis relating to biodiversity and climate change.
As of 2015, over 380 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide.
An estimated 9% has been recycled, and another 12% has been incinerated, while the remaining 79% has accumulated in landfills or the natural environment.
Plastic pollution has negative impacts on human health and the environment.
The production of plastic releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and plastic incineration releases even more greenhouse gases.
Plastics disrupt marine food chains in aquatic environments, causing the death of marine species.
Toxic substances from microplastic contamination extend to freshwater and terrestrial environments as well as food and beverages such as drinking water, which can cause various health problems.
Plastics clog storm drains, causing flash flooding during heavy rains, which increases flash floods’ impacts, as seen in various cities in Zimbabwe.
Cognisant of the plastic pollution challenge, Zimbabwe is participating in the negotiations as part of the Africa Group.
As a country, steps have been taken towards tackling this issue and promoting sustainable practices.
The government of Zimbabwe passed the Plastic Bottles and Plastic Packaging Regulations Statutory Instrument 98 of 2010 to deal with plastic pollution. Although the regulations are commendable, they have not significantly reduced plastic use in Zimbabwe.
In addition, the government of Zimbabwe’s Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (2015) recognises the need to address plastic waste.
In terms of the Plan, 18% of all waste disposed into landfills is classified as plastic waste, with the majority being carrier bag plastics.
Challenges associated with plastic waste are worsened by the lack of capacity of state institutions to enforce and implement the legislation and the limited knowledge and educational programmes among citizens.
Some of the key provisions that could be included in the legal framework to reduce plastic pollution relate to extended producer responsibilities for plastic manufacturers and retailers.
The clarion call is for concerted efforts to reduce plastic pollution premised on documented adverse impacts of plastic pollution being felt on a global scale.
Zela calls for:
lStrengthening national policy frameworks through enacting strong policies aimed at reducing plastic pollution, including regulations targeting producers and consumers of plastic products. The government can play a role in reducing plastic pollution by enacting policies restricting single-use plastics, providing incentives for businesses to develop and use more sustainable packaging materials, and investing in waste management infrastructure.
lLocal authorities should provide sustainable refuse collection services that will positively impact society, minimizing the mushrooming of refuse dumps at undesignated sites or places.
lPromotion of sustainable practices that reduce the reliance on single-use plastic products, such as reusable bags, water bottles, and containers. This can be done by encouraging sustainable production and consumption practices and choosing reusable alternatives to disposable plastic items, such as straws, bags, and water bottles.
lImproved waste management systems that encourage responsible plastic waste disposal and recycling. Recycling plastic whenever possible helps keep plastic out of landfills and incinerators, where it can release harmful pollutants into the environment.
lPromotion of businesses that prioritize environmentally friendly products and practices.
lIncreased public education, advocacy, and awareness campaigns on plastic pollution’s dangers and promoting sustainable alternatives.
Zela calls for urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to find lasting solutions to #BeatPlasticPollution.
The organisation is committed to working with various stakeholders, including the government, civil society organisations, and communities, to raise awareness of the problem and develop solutions to it. - Zela
Allow markets to determine true value of Zim dollarR
eserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) monetary policy committee (MPC) convened an ad hoc meeting on June 6 2023 amid the deepening currency crisis.
The MPC meeting comes after the treasury had earlier announced a cocktail of policy measures to stabilize the local currency and prices.
The Zimbabwe dollar, which was re-introduced in 2019 following a decade of full dollarisation is again on the verge of collapse and total market rejection.
The local unit of exchange which was trading at an average ZWL/USD 3600 in the alternative exchange markets as at end of May 2023 has lost a staggering 40% of its value to ZWL/USD 6000 in only the first eight days of the month of June 2023.
In year-to-date (YTD) terms, the ZWL is down 85% in parallel markets.
It is the ordinary citizens largely earning in local currency who are disproportionately affected by this currency conundrum as retail shops change Zimbabwe dollar prices daily yet workers’ salaries are stuck.
To clamp the increased Zimbabwe dollar volatility and contain galloping inflation, the MPC resolved to introduce a wholesale forex auction where RBZ will be selling foreign currency (forex) at a market-determined exchange rate through banks and the banks shall in turn sell that forex to their customers.
According to the MPC, this move will help support and strengthen the interbank market to ensure that it is the primary source for forex needs in the economy.
The policy shift comes after May 29 announcement from treasury limiting forex auction envelope to a maximum of US$5 million per week.
Further, the MPC removed the 90-day liquidation requirement on export proceeds which was instituted earlier by the treasury when it announced an auction fix.
The inaugural wholesale forex auction for banks was conducted on June 7, 2023.
About US$11.2 million was allotted as the Zimbabwe dollar plummeted by 24.5% to ZWL/USD 4868.52 from ZWL3673.77 a daily earlier (June 6) when US$4.99 million was traded at the retail forex auction for importers.
In the previous week, the Zimbabwe dolallar plummeted significantly against the US dollar at the Dutch forex auction of May 30, 2023 as it erased about 26.7% of its value to settle at ZWL/USD 2577.06 from ZWL/USD 1888.01 realised on May 23 2023.
All this shows that in only six days (May 30 to June 7) that the Zimbabwe dollar has lost about 47.1% of its value in the Dutch auction market.
In year-to-date (YTD) terms, the local unit is down 85.5% at the auction market.
The foregoing massive decline of the Zimbabwe dollar in the official markets can be viewed as an exchange rate adjustment to recent treasury policy shifts.
When the forex auction was introduced on June 23, 2020, the Zimbabwe lost 56.4% in the first trade.
However, as authorities buttressed the new auction system with fiscal discipline and tight monetary targeting, the Zimbabwe gained 20% in the alternative markets between July and September 2020.
The average parallel rate sailed stable through November 2020 before it started to burgeon again in response to rising liquidity growth associated with spiking fiscal spending in the fourth quarter.
So, the MPC is highly commended for the recent bold action it took toward increased liberalisation of the exchange rate which if aided by other prudent policy actions like discontinuation of quasi-fiscal activities by RBZ, sustainable treasury spending, and increased fiscal transparency will help arrest the ongoing Zimbabwe dollar instability.
To allow the market to freely determine the true Zimbabwe price, the MPC has also removed the 10% interbank trading margin to the auction and increased interbank maximum bids from US$100 000 to US$500 000.
Also, the scrapping of the 90-day forex liquidation requirement will reduce forex demand on the interbank market as many businesses will utilise their foreign currency account balances to meet forex needs.
More so, the MPC had resolved to increase RBZ benchmark policy rate from 140% to 150%. - Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
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Hate speech is used to stoke fear and division, often for political gain, and at immense cost to communities and societies. It incites violence, exacerbates tensions, and impedes efforts to foster mediation and dialogue. It is one of the warning signs of genocide and other atrocity crimes.
Hate speech is often aimed at vulnerable groups, reinforcing discrimination, stigma and marginalization. Minorities, women, refugees, migrants, and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity are frequent targets. Social media platforms can amplify and spread hate speech at lightning speed.
Misguided and ambiguous responses to hate speech — including blanket bans and internet shutdowns — may also violate human rights by restricting freedom of speech and expression. They may even silence some of those best placed to counter hateful narratives: human rights defenders and journalists.
But we are far from powerless in the face of hate speech. We can and must raise awareness about its dangers and work to prevent and end it in all its forms. The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech is our comprehensive framework for tackling the causes and impacts of hate speech, in line with international human rights standards.
Our offices and teams around the world are confronting hate speech by implementing local action plans based on this strategy.
Education initiatives, positive speech campaigns, research to understand and address root causes, and efforts to promote inclusion and equal rights all have an important role. Religious, community and business leaders can all play their part.
The United Nations is consulting Governments, technology companies and others on a voluntary code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms, aimed at reducing the spread of mis- and disinformation and hate speech, while protecting freedom of expression.
As we mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, let us renew our efforts to prevent and end this toxic and destructive phenomenon, while promoting inclusive, just and peaceful communities and societies and protecting the rights and dignity of all. - United Nations
