ENVIRONMENT Africa last week held its 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Harare amid revelations that the organisation is not renewing workers’ contracts. Some of the workers said there was no information indicating a renewal of contracts, while the Malawi and Mozambique offices were now being handled by a programmes officer who is currently based in Zimbabwe. While the organisation’s finance director during the AGM alluded to the fact that the organisation was facing challenges, some workers said they were surprised considering that the organisation recently purchased a fleet of vehicles. Unofficial information gathered indicates that since the organisation obtains funding from donors, the lifespan of jobs is determined by the funding of a particular project while the purchase of vehicles may also indicate the beginning of a new project. Despite this issue, Environment Africa has been very instrumental in championing environmental issues and since its establishment 22 years ago, it has proved beyond any doubt it is committed towards making the environment better. The organisation stands on a backing of numerous projects which have seen recycling collection centres opened, while energy revolving funds and projects have been established. With Zimbabwe currently facing multiple environmental management challenges among them, pollution, poor waste management, deforestation and land degradation, veld fires, floods and droughts, climate change and climate variability, poaching and biodiversity loss achieving sustainable development and social equity dependent on judicious exploitation of the country’s environmental resources is a must. Government through the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate acknowledges the relevant work that Environment Africa is doing in championing the African environment. Speaking at the AGM, Abraham Zivai Matiza, an acting director with the Ministry of Environment said Environment Africa has been a true champion in environmental stewardship. “The Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate appreciates the relationship that has been established with Environment Africa since its formation in 1990 complementing government’s efforts in the issues of climate change, sustainable livelihoods, environmental governance and biodiversity,” Matiza said. “Through the partnership that the Ministry has had with Environment Africa, we have made huge strides in providing environmental education and information to the nation; ensuring sustainable use of our natural resources and in protecting and preserving our environment. “We are encouraged by Environment Africa’s approach of working in partnerships, which have brought together different members of society resulting in tremendous achievements for sustainable development. “This is evident in Environment Africa’s approach of establishing and supporting Private Public Community Partnerships (PPCPs). “The main focus in this approach is the involvement of communities that have often been left on the periphery of development initiatives. “Development is incomplete if communities continue to be sidelined.” Also speaking during the AGM Environment Africa chairman, Albert Katsande said, the organisation recognises the importance of sustainable use and management of the environment in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. “Sustainable development means that economic development integrates the concerns about the people of the region and the environment they depend upon for their livelihoods,” Katsande said. “While we have been encouraging progress in the upliftment of local communities and in environmental management within the region, land degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation services and poor urban conditions continue to undermine sustainable socio-economic development. We encourage all to harness their collective energies to uplift and conserve southern Africa’s communities and the environment.” Environment Africa as according to the Regional Director Innocent Hodzonge, “recognises the importance of embracing change as a catalyst for improving its performance and relevance.” Through this process Hodzonge says the organisation has sought to consolidate practices such as the lead farmer approach which empowers locals to take the lead and build on local indigenous knowledge systems. With Zimbabwe’s economy largely soil-based and the United Nations having declared 2015 as the ‘International Year of Soils’, a theme that highlights the importance of soil conservation, there is need to raise awareness on the sustainable utilisation of soils so that the same resource can be utilised by current and future generations.