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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

THE Bulawayo City Council is conducting a stakeholder consultation meeting to draft the city’s Local Environmental Action Plan that aims to address environmental issues.

The meeting is being held at Large City Hall with Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, and Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube participating in the consultation meeting.

Sand poaching and land degradation especially along the city’s supply dams have emerged as some of the problems affecting the city.

Stakeholders in the environmental sector and residents are part of today’s meeting.

Local authorities are expected to draft a Local Environmental Action Plan (2023 – 2027) in accordance with Section 95 of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27].

Accordingly, the EMA Act states that every local authority is expected to prepare its own environmental action plan for the area under its jurisdiction.

In a statement, BCC said the council is in the process of drafting its  Local Environmental Action Plan to address environmental threats or problems.

“It also involves the relevant sectors (stakeholders) of the local community coming together, identifying their problems and concerns, and working together to solve the problem. The LEAP Document is being reviewed in line with Agenda 21 which is a Sustainable Development Action Plan for the 21st Century which urges national governments to work with their citizens to develop a local agenda. The LEAP document outlines the strategies and measures for the protection, restoration, rehabilitation and general management of the environment. The purpose of the plan is to facilitate and coordinate strategies, measures, plans and activities relating to the environment,” reads the statement.