Lioli Maguma of explaining the contents of the Draft Communication and Access to Information Plan to staff of the Environmental Management Agency

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) hosted a lunch-meeting for Environmental Management Agency staff members on the 19th of August 2009 as part of the TAI project activities to promote access rights. The key result of the meeting which was attended by the Director-General of EMA and other senior Agency staff members was that participants unanimously agreed and underscored the need to promote access to environmental information and public participation in decision making processes in Zimbabwe using the proposed Communication and Access to Information Plan as a tool. The lunch meeting was held as part of efforts by EMA in partnership with ZELA to get stakeholder feedback and input on the Draft Communication and Access to Information Plan.

The meeting provided an opportunity to EMA staff members to discuss the process leading to the drafting of the Draft Communication and Access to Environmental Information Plan and its content. Out of this meeting it was resolved that there is need to ensure that the Plan concretely identifies the key messages that should be communicated to stakeholders and that the target stakeholders should be clearly identified. It was also highlighted that the Plan should provide general guidance on promoting effective implementation of the country’s commitments to Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration within the framework of national legislation and processes. In effect, the meeting facilitated the sharing of ideas by participants who all expressed commitment to implement the Plan once it is finalised and to treat it as an effective tool for promoting access to environmental information in Zimbabwe.