Zimbabwe:
Landuse in Dry Tropical Savannas
Policy and institutional framework for sustainable resource management
Agenda 21 recognizes the
involvement of various institutions in promoting sustainable resource
management. The report specifically identifies the following groups: i) women;
ii) children and youth; iii) indiginous peoples; iv) partnerships with NGOs;
v) local authorities; vi) business and industry; and vii) scientists and
researchers. Each of these groups represent specific types of institutions
which are currently involved in resource management. Clearly resource
management is not a responsibility of one individual or institution.
Generally, the policy and institutional framework for sustainable resource
management has been characterized as being highly restrictive, detracting from
efforts to promote sustainable management2. In many countries in Africa,
Zimbabwe in particular, most of the existing policy and institutional
frameworks are carried over wholesale into the post independence period and
need to be reviewed and amended to reflect and respond to current and topical
issues arising out of the environmental debate, for example, issues arising
out of the Bruntland Report, Agenda 21, the Earth Council and many others
pertinent to the environment. There have been some policy and legal changes to
the existing framework, but these have been described as cosmetic, and not
sufficient to make existing policies, institutions and legislation facilitate
sustainable development. In fact it has been suggested that the existing policy
and institutional framework has one or more of the following effects on
resource management: i) promotes degradation of resources4; ii) does not
provide incentives for people to manage resources sustainably; iii) creates
conditions that increase differences between groups within and between
communities5.
Because of these concerns, various policy reviews have begun to promote
i) devolution of state control over resources to local communities;
ii) co-management arrangements between the private land holders
(state, individuals , commercial farmers, mines) with local communities6.
Integrating multiple interests of the different stakeholders in such
co-management scenarios is not an easy task as goals and priorities differ7.
Existing institutions and sustainable development
The importance of policy and the institutional framework in promoting
sustainable development should not be understated8. The debate about the
institutions concerns the type of institution best suited to promote
sustainability. There are different schools of thought on this, the first
arguing that the state is the overall manager or guardian of resources and
should develop mechanisms to ensure that resources are managed sustainably.
take responsibility for or pay for the costs associated with resource
management.
But the capacity of the state in Africa and in Zimbabwe in particular, has been
drastically reduced leaving a gap in resource management as state organizations
withdraw their services from certain sectors of the environment and the
grassroots9.
Arising out of the concern that state institutions are weak and
therefore incapable of managing resources sustainably, is the second school of
thought which suggests that there is no need for the state to take
responsibility for resource management as local institutions (traditional)
already exist which are experienced and have been managing resources
sustainably for many years10. However, this school of thought concedes that
expecting these traditional institutions to promote sustainable management in
their weakened state would be unrealistic and therefore there is need to
strengthen and empower them before the responsibility is shifted from the state
11.
NGOs and Donors also play an important role in promoting sustainability. For
so many years, these institutions sought to replace incapacitated state
institutions, but have now found that they can meaningfully promote sustainable
development if they act as the link between the state and local communities12.
The ultimate resource managers are the local communities who use resources on
a daily basis.
The policy and legal framework for sustainable resource management should be
considered for different scales,
i.e.
1 M. Keating (1992), Agenda for Change: A plain language version of Agenda 21
and the other Rio Agreements, Center for Our Common Future.
2 Lue-Mbizvo C. and Mohammed J. (1993) The institutional framework for natural
resources management; Stockholm Environmental Institute and ZERO, Stockholm
3 Government of Zimbabwe's national report to UNCED (June 1992)
4 Little P.D. and Brokensha D.W. 1986 local institutions, tenure and resource
management in east Africa. In Conservation in Africa:People, policies and
practices. eds R.Grove and D.Anderson. Cambridge University press.
5 Gadgil M. and Guha R. 1992 This fissured land: An ecological history of
India. Oxford University Press.
6 Scoones I. and Matose F. 1993 Local woodland management, constraints and
opportunities for sustainable resource use. In P.N. Bradley and K. macNamara
eds. Living with trees: Policies for forestry management in Zimbabwe, World Ban
k
technical Paper 210, Washington.
7 Murombedza J. 1992 Inequality and commons: competition for control at the
international national and local levels in CAMPFIRE programmes. Paper prepared
for the 3rd Common Property Conference: Inequality and the Commons, 10-12 Sept
1992, Washington DC, International association for the study of common
property.
8 Seiderman R. B. 1992 State law and agricultural institutions. in
Transforming southern African Agriculture. eds. A Seiderman, K. mwanza, N
Simelani, and D.Weiner. Africa World Press.
9 Mlenge W. and Johansson L. 1992 Empowering customary community institutions
to manage natural resources, Paper presented at a SAREC workshop on People's
participation in the management of natural resources, Oct.5 1992
10 E.g. Makuku S.J. 1993 Community approaches in managing common property
forest resources: the case of Norumedzo community in Bikita. In G.D Pierce and
D.J. Gumbo eds. The ecology and management of indegenous forests in southern
Africa: Proceedings of an international symposium 27-29 July 1992
11 Murphree M. W. 1991 Communities as institutions for resource management.
CASS, University of Zimbabwe.
12 Thomas-Slayter B.P. 1992 Implementing effective local management of
resources: new roles for NGOs in Africa. Human Organisation 51:136-143
13 Government of Zimbabwe national Report to UNCED (June 1992)
14 Towards national action for sustainable development : the report on the
national response conference to the RIO Earth summit, 2-4 November 1992. MET
(March 1993)
15 Murombedzi J. 1992Inequality and commons; competition for control at the
international , national and local levels in CAMPFIRE programmes. Paper
presented at the 3rd Common Property Conference : Inequality and the Commons,
10-12 September, Washington DC.
16 Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe National Report to UNCED
17 Thomas-Slayter B.P. 1992 Implementing effective local management of natural
resources: new roles for Ngos in Africa. Human Organisation 51: 136-143
18 Makuku S.J. 1993 Community approaches in managing common property forest
resources: the case of Norumedzo community in Bikita. In G.D. Pierce and D.J.
Gumbo eds. The ecology and management of indiginous forest in southern Africa.
Proceedings of an international symposium 27-29 July 1992, Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe. Harare Zimbabwe, Forestry Commission
19 Sithole B. 1995 The role of institutions, SEI, Stockholm
20 Sithole B. and Bradley P.N. 1995 Institutional conflicts over the managemen
t
of communal resources in Zimbabwe, SEI, Stockholm.
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