AGP Executive Report

Climate Diplomacy: African Group of Negotiators chair Dr Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah urged a united African women’s voice in global climate talks in Bonn, saying women’s priorities and coordinated positions should shape negotiations and implementation. Wildlife Coexistence: Zimbabwe’s Wildlife Info Line is helping communities manage human-wildlife conflict via free WhatsApp guidance on safety, livestock and crop protection, and animal behaviour. Mining & Environment: Caledonia Mining says it improved environmental performance at Blanket mine in 2025 through better water efficiency, long-term solar power supply and integrated management of tailings, excess water, drought resilience and air quality. Food Security & Climate Risk: Agriculture officials say Zimbabwe aims to raise national food security to 90% by 2030, supported by climate-smart agriculture and AfDB-backed resilience projects. Water & Public Health: Residents in Chitungwiza and Eyecourt are challenging a planned burial memorial park near Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant, warning of contamination risks to Harare and Chitungwiza water supplies. Green Jobs: Don Bosco Technical College Hwange is training youths for solar installation work through a regional “train-the-trainer” programme, building skills for the photovoltaic sector. Wildlife Health Alert: A rare tsetse fly-borne disease has been reported in safari travellers returning from Zimbabwe and Zambia, highlighting a diagnostic blind spot. Community Safety: Police are investigating a firearm and assault incident linked to a Harare school rugby match, raising calls for tighter security at youth sports events.

Water & Health Safety: Residents of Chitungwiza and Eyecourt are fuming over the Watervlei Burial Memorial Park near Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant, warning seepage and chemicals could contaminate Harare’s water supply. Climate & Food Security: The Agriculture Ministry says early climate models point to an 80% chance of El Niño conditions in 2026/27, pushing a shift to early warning and early action, while officials target 90% national food security by 2030. Nature & Wildlife Risk: A rare tsetse fly-borne disease case has been flagged in safari travellers returning from Zambia and Zimbabwe, highlighting a diagnostic blind spot. Mining & Environment Management: Caledonia Mining’s 2025 ESG report says Blanket mine improved water efficiency, secured long-term solar power and strengthened tailings, excess water and drought resilience. Green Jobs & Skills: Don Bosco Technical College Hwange is training youths for the solar/photovoltaic sector through a regional “train-the-trainer” programme. Responsible Mining Agenda: WWF Zimbabwe launched a 2026–2030 nature transformation plan and responsible mining initiative.

Health Data Sovereignty: Human Rights Watch says new US–Africa health deals are raising alarms over privacy, security and sovereignty, with agreements reportedly tying aid to access to surveillance data and biological samples. Water & Waste: A “Smart Nappy” project in Matatiele is pushing reusable nappies to tackle disposable nappy pollution, linking behaviour change with catchment and freshwater conservation. Climate Migration: Eastern Highlands families in Zimbabwe’s drought belt fear eviction as a crackdown on illegal settlements intensifies, even as erratic rainfall drives people to the region. Wildlife Crime: A Hwange security guard was jailed for nine years for unlawful possession of raw ivory, underscoring ongoing pressure on elephant poaching networks. Energy & Nature Tourism: ZimParks reports a modest rise in Victoria Falls Rainforest arrivals in Q1 2026, while ZETDC says it has connected about 80% of Binga town to the grid. Food Security: Zimbabwe is on track for a potentially record wheat harvest, with planting nearing the June 15 deadline amid El Niño drought fears. Mining & Formalisation: Government plans to train and license 600,000 artisanal miners, aiming to reduce unsafe mining while boosting gold deliveries. Crypto Regulation: Zimbabwe has gazetted new rules bringing cryptocurrency businesses under FIU oversight, requiring registration, local presence and compliance to curb illicit finance.

Water & Hydropower: The Zambezi River Authority has joined the International Hydropower Association to boost operations and improve the bankability of projects like Kariba rehabilitation and Batoka Gorge. Climate & Food Security: Government says winter wheat planting is on track, with 118,185ha done (94.5% of target) and a projected 662,500 tonnes if the 125,000ha goal is met, as El Niño drought risk looms. Wildlife Crime: A Hwange security guard was jailed nine years for unlawful possession of raw, unmarked elephant ivory. Human–Wildlife Conflict: Midlands State University students in Zvishavane are battling marauding chacma baboons driven into towns by drought and depleted food sources. Energy Access: ZETDC has connected about 80% of Binga town to the grid, up from 10% last August. Tourism & Conservation: Victoria Falls Rainforest arrivals rose slightly in Q1 2026, up nearly 4,000 visitors year-on-year. Waste-to-Inclusion: A Grade 7 pupil in Gweru built a low-cost wheelchair from recycled materials, linking disability inclusion with environmental sustainability. Health & Food Safety: World Food Safety Day coverage warns that unsafe leftover food and poor storage can fuel illness.

Climate & Food Security: Zimbabwe is on track for a bumper winter wheat harvest, with 118,185ha planted (94.5% of the 125,000ha target) and officials confident the remaining hectarage will be completed by Monday, as El Niño drought risk (80% probability) looms and the country moves to build grain reserves for the 2026/27 season. Water & Land Degradation: Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart warns that illegal, uncontrolled mining in the Umzingwane Dam catchment is destroying rivers, tributaries and even mountains, threatening water inflows and future water security. Energy Access: ZETDC says it has connected 80% of Binga town to electricity, up from 10% last August, as universal access efforts accelerate. Wildlife & Tourism: Victoria Falls Rainforest recorded a marginal rise in visitors in Q1 2026 (64,481 vs 60,569 in Q1 2025), while MSU Zvishavane faces growing baboon incursions driven by dry-season food shortages. Health & Environment: Bulawayo pharmacies are selling “flu packs” under scrutiny amid antimicrobial resistance concerns, and a separate report highlights food safety risks from leftovers stored and handled unsafely. Mining Safety & Formalisation: Government plans to train and license 600,000 artisanal and small-scale miners to reduce deadly unsafe practices.

Climate & Gender: Zimbabwean researcher Chido Nyaruwata is using a feminist lens to tackle climate resilience, linking climate-driven violence and child marriage to the need for women-led local adaptation through her Flames and Lilies initiative. Water & Mining Impacts: Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart says illegal mining in the Umzingwane Dam catchment is destroying rivers, tributaries and mountains, threatening water inflows and livelihoods. River Rehabilitation vs Accountability: Government has gazetted rules letting contractors rehabilitate degraded river systems and recover gold without standard mining licences, raising fears of politically connected abuse and weak transparency. El Niño Risk: Zimbabwe’s Met Department warns El Niño conditions are likely in 2026/27, with below-normal rainfall risks for water, farming and energy—another push for stronger climate resilience and access to adaptation finance. Rural Water Access: China-Aid’s 300 boreholes project is delivering clean water to over 75,000 people across 300 villages in drought-affected provinces. Responsible Mining Push: WWF Zimbabwe launched its 2026–2030 plan and a responsible mining initiative, calling for decarbonised, inclusive value chains for energy-transition minerals. Food Systems & Biodiversity Learning: SCOPE Zimbabwe validated heritage-based learning resources, including “My Foods” materials on indigenous foods, nutrition, biodiversity and sustainable food systems. Policy & Tech: Government is finalising AI investment incentives and technology-focused special economic zones to speed up AI adoption across the economy.

Water Security: China-Zim’s China-Aid 300 boreholes project has been handed over in Chimanimani, delivering clean water to 75,000 people across 300 villages in four provinces, responding to El Niño-linked drought impacts. River & Mining Restoration: Government has gazetted regulations to operationalise the river ecosystem disaster declaration, allowing contractors to rehabilitate damaged waterways while recovering gold under permits, with royalties and reporting requirements. Conservation & Responsible Mining: WWF Zimbabwe launched its 2026–2030 strategic plan and a responsible mining initiative, aiming to mobilise at least US$25m for nature transformation, climate resilience and biodiversity protection. Climate-Smart Farming: The Agricultural Research Council urged stronger farmer–research–policy linkages at its 2026 Agri-Innovation Field Day, pushing practical, farmer-centred solutions for food security under climate abnormalities. Livestock Disease Risk: Despite favourable rainfall forecasts, shortages of dipping chemicals are leaving cattle exposed to January tick-borne disease, forcing some farmers into hand-tilling and raising food shortage fears. Women’s Climate Resilience: A GCF–Government–UNDP partnership is rolling out labour-saving farm technologies via Farmer Field Schools, helping women reduce drudgery and better cope with erratic seasons. Wildlife Tourism & Community Access: KAZA TFCA ministers commended Zimbabwe’s First Lady for enabling 10,000 women to visit Victoria Falls, boosting inclusive tourism in the transfrontier conservation area.

River Rehabilitation Framework: Zimbabwe has gazetted regulations operationalising its river ecosystem disaster declaration after alluvial mining damage, setting up a legal route for contractors to rehabilitate rivers and recover gold via special permits, with royalties, tight reporting, and oversight by an inter-ministerial committee. Water Security & Drought Response: China-Aid’s 300-borehole project was handed over, with officials highlighting clean water delivery across villages in drought-affected provinces. Conservation & Tourism: KAZA ministers in Victoria Falls praised First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa for enabling 10,000 women to visit Victoria Falls, underlining the link between community access and wildlife tourism. Nature Transformation Funding: WWF Zimbabwe launched its 2030 Roadmap and is seeking at least US$25m to drive climate resilience and biodiversity conservation through decarbonised, inclusive value chains. Wildlife News: ZimParks/partners’ conservation momentum is echoed by a major rhino relocation in Mozambique, with white rhinos reintroduced to Zinave to restore biodiversity. Climate ArtVocacy: Chiredzi hosts the inaugural Climate ArtVocacy Day to tackle climate anxiety and grief through music, poetry and storytelling. ESG & Land Stewardship: Zimbabwe is pushing to integrate traditional land custodianship into ESG reporting, aiming to blend local resource rules with modern governance. Clean Energy Spotlight: Parliament commended the Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Plant for feeding clean power into the national grid and strengthening energy resilience.

Responsible Mining Push: WWF Zimbabwe and ZELO have launched a five-year UNECA-backed project in Harare to promote environmentally and socially responsible mining, including better value chains for energy-transition minerals. Elephant Conservation Under Pressure: Zimbabwe’s elephant numbers are now above 85,000—near or beyond carrying capacity—prompting calls for stronger ecosystem management; Bulawayo also seized 1.5 tonnes of elephant meat in an enforcement blitz. Wildlife-School Access: ZimParks and IFAW donated bicycles and textbooks to Hwange-area learners under a Riding for Conservation initiative, aiming to cut dangerous wildlife-corridor journeys and improve attendance. Cleaner Mining and Community Benefits: The same conservation-mining agenda is echoed in the responsible mining strategy rollout, linking local livelihoods to environmental safeguards. Urban Safety and Regulation: A surge in motorcycle deliveries is outpacing licensing, raising road-safety concerns as registrations climb. Water, Sanitation, and Climate Resilience: Government marked Africa Day by reaffirming commitments to sustainable water availability and safe sanitation as foundations for climate resilience and development.

Wildlife-human ties: A new conservation lens shows how relationships shift fast as wildlife behaviour, human views, practices and rules change—highlighting lessons from southern Africa and Cape Town’s coastal and suburb conflicts. Disease control: South Africa’s foot-and-mouth outbreaks show why weak nationwide tracing systems can let wildlife and farm risks spiral, hitting exports and livelihoods. Urban environment & health: Bulawayo stepped up enforcement, seizing 1.5 tonnes of elephant meat and issuing dozens of notices over hygiene and licensing gaps; the city also backed a community-led slum upgrading and environmental restoration partnership using GIS mapping and in-situ upgrading. Carbon governance: A carbon-market rules gap is making Paris-aligned sovereign credits harder to use under CORSIA, with Zimbabwe flagged in an ICAO ruling—raising equity concerns for African carbon projects. Food & climate policy: Rural women smallholders across Southern Africa urged governments to centre them in resilient food systems as climate shocks and hunger deepen. Illegal mining risk: GI-TOC warns illicit gold markets are outpacing global controls, fuelling sanctions evasion and conflict financing.

Returning Home Relief: Zimbabwe is reviewing taxes and tariffs that hit people bringing belongings back from neighbouring countries, after concerns raised by youth in South Africa. Xenophobia & Costs: Zimbabweans in South Africa fear both xenophobic attacks and the financial shock of import charges when they return. Wetland Protection: Government has stopped MPs’ housing plans on Harare’s Monavale Wetland, calling it a “no-go” area after environmental activists blocked works. Urban Water & Waste: Bulawayo City Council seeks over US$13m for water, sewage, roads, ICT and renewable energy upgrades, while local authorities are urged to ensure door-to-door waste collection and compliant landfills. Energy Affordability: ZERA’s LPG price hike is sparking backlash over rising costs of clean cooking fuel. Conservation & Wildlife: KAZA meetings in Vic Falls push a united front on wildlife conservation and elephant trade. Climate Resilience & Food: Women farmers are getting training on food sovereignty and climate resilience, as drought and heat pressures continue to strain livelihoods.

Wetland Protection: Government has stopped MPs’ housing plans on Harare’s Monavale Wetland after environmental activists blocked earth-moving equipment, with officials warning it is a “no-go area.” Inclusive Procurement: PRAZ’s Public Procurement Symposium in Bulawayo pushed for quota systems and targeted procurement to boost women and SMEs in public tenders, alongside plans to strengthen procurement systems and expand e-Government procurement. Women & Climate Resilience: ZIMSOFF trained women smallholder farmers on popular feminism, food sovereignty and climate resilience, linking control of seeds, land and natural resources to stronger agroecology. Mining Safety: CNRG demanded Bikita Minerals suspend operations and investigate after two workers died at the lithium mine, citing serious occupational health and safety concerns. Water & Waste Infrastructure: Bulawayo City Council seeks over US$13m borrowing to rehabilitate water and sewage systems, roads, ICT and renewable energy, while local authorities are urged to ensure compliant waste collection and landfills. Energy Access & Cost Pressure: ZERA sanctioned a sharp LPG price rise, sparking criticism that clean-energy access is being priced out for ordinary households. Digital & Solar Connectivity: POTRAZ upgraded 98 digital centres with Starlink and solarised 59, deploying thousands of computers to schools. Regional Conservation: KAZA meetings in Vic Falls kicked off as Zimbabwe leads a push for a united wildlife conservation front and elephant trade coordination.

River Protection vs Mining Risk: Zimbabwe has declared a state of disaster to rehabilitate 17 degraded river systems damaged by legal and illegal alluvial mining, but the Centre for Natural Resource Governance warns the move could be exploited by miners using “restoration” as cover. Regional Conservation: KAZA transfrontier conservation meetings opened in Victoria Falls as Zimbabwe chairs the bloc, with ministers pushing a united front on elephant conservation and wildlife trade. Lithium Safety Scrutiny: CNRG called on Bikita Minerals to suspend operations and investigate two worker deaths at the lithium mine, citing serious occupational health and safety concerns. Local Water & Land Pressure: Reports of “land barons” expanding illegal settlements near the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant in Hunyani raise fears for water infrastructure and environmental risk. Women, Food Sovereignty & Climate Resilience: ZIMSOFF trained women smallholder farmers on popular/peasant feminism, agroecology, and control of seeds, land and natural resources. Mining Formalisation & Mercury: EMA and planetGOLD assessed small-scale gold mines in Filabusi to improve processing and reduce environmental and health risks linked to mercury use. Waste & Public Safety: Harare’s Budiriro 3 sewer-pond tragedy has reignited anger over municipal negligence after three deaths linked to an open sewage excavation. Tourism Infrastructure: Work has started on a new Beitbridge CBD extension, including sewer, water and drainage upgrades, aimed at modernising the border town.

KAZA Conservation: KAZA TFCA meetings kicked off in Victoria Falls as Zimbabwe chairs the regional conservation bloc, with ministers and technical teams pushing progress on wildlife protection and elephant trade rules. River Protection vs Mining Risk: CNRG says Zimbabwe’s State of Disaster for 17 degraded rivers could be exploited by miners using “rehabilitation” as cover, warning of more pollution and biodiversity loss if safeguards are weak. ASGM Environmental Focus: In Filabusi, Mines officials, EMA and planetGOLD Zimbabwe are assessing small-scale gold processing, including mercury use, to improve recovery while cutting health and environmental risks. Water Security Push: The First Lady called for stronger African cooperation and investment in water and sanitation, warning climate change is worsening chronic water insecurity. Fertiliser Localisation: Government is accelerating fertiliser production and regional procurement to blunt global supply shocks after Middle East tensions disrupted key inputs. Food Market Watch: ZMX reports firm grain prices, with white maize slightly down but soya beans strengthening on tight supplies and steady demand. Local Health & Environment Link: Harare’s Budiriro 3 sewer pond deaths have reignited calls for safer municipal waste and drainage management.

Tertiary Education Reform: Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava orders structural and digital changes at TESC and ZIMCHE, including Treasury engagement to fix funding gaps and a new pre-departure clearance system for students going abroad. Water Security: First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa calls for stronger African cooperation and infrastructure investment to tackle chronic water insecurity, linking the push to Agenda 2063. Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency: Government accelerates local fertiliser production and regional procurement to blunt global supply shocks, with Middle East tensions cited as a key driver of input shortages. Wildlife Conservation: KAZA states meet in Victoria Falls to align on elephant conservation and elephant trade positions, while Peace Parks Foundation reports positive long-term results from rhino translocations at Zinave National Park. Climate Resilience for Women: UNDP and the Green Climate Fund back labour-saving farm technologies for 230 rural women through Farmer Field Schools, aiming to cut drudgery and boost resilience. Ecosystem Restoration Call: ZHRC urges urgent investment in ecosystem restoration, afforestation and wetland protection as droughts, floods and biodiversity loss intensify. Waste Management: Beitbridge’s local authorities are pushed to improve door-to-door waste collection and compliant landfills to keep towns and highways clean. Labour Rights Watch: Zimbabwe lands on the ITUC global workers’ rights watch list, with reports of increased violations and pressure on trade unionists. Mining & Environment: Reporting highlights a toxic legacy of mercury pollution behind Zimbabwe’s gold boom, renewing calls for cleaner practices.

Ecosystem & climate resilience: The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is calling for urgent investment in ecosystem restoration, afforestation and wetland protection, warning that droughts, floods, deforestation, wetland destruction, pollution and biodiversity loss are already undermining livelihoods and sustainable development. Waste & local clean-ups: In Beitbridge, Minister Albert Nguluvhe urged councils to improve solid waste management with regular door-to-door collection, proper waste transport and compliant landfills, using the town’s anti-litter marathon as a public push for cleaner streets. Plastic-free push: Zimbabwe marked World Environment Day with a renewed anti-plastic pollution drive, with officials warning that poor waste disposal clogs drainage systems, pollutes rivers and harms ecosystems. Water & public health risk: Harare’s Budiriro sewer tragedy—where an unguarded sewer pool reportedly led to multiple deaths—has again spotlighted dangerous municipal infrastructure and the need for safer, better-managed sanitation systems. Mining & pollution legacy: A new focus on Zimbabwe’s gold boom highlights mercury pollution risks, adding pressure for stronger controls in mining areas. Climate-smart farming at Bonn: A pan-African food alliance urged UN negotiators in Bonn to put agroecology at the centre of climate action, arguing it can rebuild soils, cut reliance on bought inputs and strengthen food sovereignty.