By Thabisani Dube
In Zimbabwe, plastic clogs rivers and mining scars the land, yet environmental journalists are rewriting the nation’s survival story. On December 4, at the 27th Environmental Reporter of the Year Awards, reporters were celebrated not just for exposing crises but for sparking solutions — proving that journalism is as vital to conservation as tree planting or policy reform.
Addressing guests, Environment Africa Board Vice-Chairperson Ciprian Jabebi said the awards stood as a testament to the transformative role journalists play in confronting the climate crisis.
“Tonight, we honour your courage, your integrity, and your dedication. Your work shape public opinion, influences policy, and gives hope to those working in the trenches of environmental conservation,” he said.
He recounted Environment Africa’s long track record — from recycling programmes of the early 1990s (when it was called Environment 2000) to biodigesters, national tree-planting initiatives, land rehabilitation programmes, and advocacy for a ban on single-use plastics.
The competition, themed ‘Ending Plastic Pollution: Advancing Zero Plastic Policies and Practices,’ reflects Environment Africa’s decades-long environmental work. According to Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Zimbabwe produces about 1.65 million tonnes of solid waste each year — about 18 per cent of which is plastic, equivalent to roughly 300,000–340,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Much of this plastic ends up in rivers, landfills, and urban areas, creating environmental and public‑health challenges.
The national Forest Information System notes that about 61 per cent of the country’s land area is forested, though deforestation remains a pressing concern. Efforts in environmental reporting and community-based solutions also reflect a broader regional and global push towards sustainable practices, highlighting how local journalism can inform and inspire international approaches to plastic pollution and climate resilience.
Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) Finance Director Mr. Napoleon Motoroa highlighted the hospitality group’s environmental initiatives, including replacing disposable toiletry bottles with refillable dispensers and installing in-house water purification systems. “By 2026, all our hotels will fully transition to reusable glass bottles,” he said.
RTG’s ‘A Tree for Every Room’ initiative has planted over 16,000 trees nationwide, according to the company’s 2025 sustainability report, with 10,000 more planned for Nyanga following its acquisition of Montclair Hotel and Resort.
RTG’s corporate efforts complement wider collaborations with NGOs, research institutions, and community groups, including the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO), the Forestry Commission, and universities conducting climate-impact research.
These partnerships help reporters access reliable data, verify findings, and amplify community-led solutions, enhancing reporting credibility and fostering coordinated action.
Guest speaker Dr Alexander Chileshe — a respected regional specialist in environmental governance and the Project Manager for UN-Habitat Zimbabwe — urged journalists to expand their storytelling beyond exposing crises.
“Environmental stories are not merely about disasters,” Dr Chileshe said. “They are about resilience, science, livelihoods, and the future we are shaping. We need journalists who challenge industry, question policy, and illuminate the efforts of ordinary citizens who are leading change.”
Environmental reporting in Zimbabwe is not without hurdles. Journalists face limited resources, restricted access to remote sites, bureaucratic delays, and occasional censorship or policy constraints, yet they continue to report on deforestation, illegal mining, water scarcity, and climate change impacts on agriculture and other natural resources.
New Ziana reporters were among the evening’s standout achievers. Johnson Siamachira reflected on the motivation behind his work: “I ‘m driven by a commitment to transparency and accountability in environmental governance. Everyone — especially marginalised communities — deserves truthful information that empowers them to protect their environment. While addressing difficult topics can be daunting, the potential for meaningful change keeps me motivated.”
Siamachira highlighted urgent issues demanding journalistic attention. These include climate change impacts on agriculture and fisheries, water scarcity, deforestation, and the transition to renewable energy. Through in-depth investigations, he exposes inequities affecting marginalised communities, including unequal access to water infrastructure and unfair land-use policies. His reporting informs the public, pressures policymakers, and ensures government initiatives address the needs of the most vulnerable, especially the rural communities.
Gibson Mhaka, of the Bulawayo-based The Chronicle, said he pursued his award-winning story to spotlight a practical, community-led solution to forest loss and poverty in Zimbabwe’s arid regions.
“What inspired me was the chance to shift the conversation from environmental decline to resilience,” Mhaka explained. “People like Leonard Skapane and Memory Mpofu in Insiza have shown that economic development and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand. Their beekeeping project demonstrates how communities can earn an income while protecting the forest that sustains them.”
He said accessing remote communities such as Montrose 4A in Ward 19 was one of the biggest challenges. The distances, the cost of travel, sparse infrastructure, and climate-related uncertainties, underscoring the dedication required to tell these stories.
Mhaka noted the logistical challenges of reporting from remote areas, including travel costs, sparse infrastructure, and climate-related uncertainties, underscoring the dedication required to tell these stories.
Highlighting urban water challenges, Muchaneta Chimuka of Zimpapers shared: “As a citizen of Zimbabwe and a resident of Chitungwiza, I witness daily the struggles people face to access clean water. Women and men spend hours fetching water, yet many boreholes are drying up, contaminated, or vandalised. My call to the government is for urgent initiatives — such as community water cooperatives, proper water testing, and river or dam desalination — to ensure reliable, safe water supply. Journalism allows us to highlight these critical issues and push for practical solutions that save lives and support communities.”
The awards recognised journalists addressing Zimbabwe’s environmental challenges, from climate change and biodiversity loss to plastic pollution, mining-linked degradation, and recycling innovations. Judges praised entries demonstrating courage, research depth, and accountability, noting the power of stories that expose problems while highlighting real solutions and community resilience.
New Ziana journalists dominated several categories, with Thabisani Dube winning Best Renewable Energy Story and Johnson Siamachira earning two runner-up positions in best climate change and best renewable energy stories. Other winners included Muchaneta Chimuka and Tawanda Musarurwa from Zimpapers (Best Water and Sanitation and Best Sustainable Forestry Management, respectively), and Tendai Makaripe from 263 CHAT (Best Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Reporter of the Year 2025).
“These are not just stories — they are agents for change,” Jabebi emphasised, highlighting the wider impact of environmental reporting. Environment Africa and RTG called on all stakeholders — journalists, policymakers, industry leaders, scientists, and communities — to strengthen environmental governance, support green innovation, build a circular economy, and eliminate plastic pollution at the source.
Zimbabwe faces critical challenges, including biodiversity loss, worsening water scarcity, and climate change impacts on agriculture. These issues highlight the vital role of environmental journalism, nationally and regionally. The awards show that through storytelling, journalists can empower communities, influence policy, and safeguard the country’s environmental future.
