Who are we?
WHO WE ARE
The foundation of the Centre for Environmental Accountability`s (CEA), concerned with the “liberation of creation.” CEA is a major force in this struggle to save Zimbabwe’s environment from destruction and exploitation. Based in the Masvingo and Midlands Province in southern Zimbabwe, it remains a powerful grassroots environmental force composed of indigenous people, tribe chiefs, spirit mediums, and conservationists. The philosophy of CEA is grounded in the revitalization of indigenous knowledge and cultural traditions in environmental discourse.
The work of CEA is grounded in the philosophy of “community-born, community-led, and community-owned”. Working directly in the field, we build critical social and organizational infrastructure to dismantle systemic barriers that perpetuates environmental injustice and empower people in frontline communities to lead change grounded in their stories, struggles, and solutions. Its foundational pillars are built around the promotion of sustainable development and the protection as well as promotion of equitable socio-economic rights, including environmental, climate change, land rights, among all citizens of Zimbabwe, particularly historically marginalised groups such as women, youth and ethnic minorities. CEA fosters access to quality and accurate information on environmental protection, extractive industries, sustainable energy, climate change, water security and agriculture with the ultimate aim of enhancing accountability for better decision making and sustainable development as well as a support safe and adaptive environment as basic fundamental human rights to having a better and prosperous livelihood.
Furthermore, the organisation has created interface platforms for marginalised groups to engage with solution holders, including government officials and members of the business community, on various development related issues such as land and water rights, educational rights, environmental and natural resource management. CEA’s target communities have principally included urban settlements, rural communities, plantations and mining areas. The guiding philosophy CEA’s strategic interventions has been that systemic change begins at the local level and when local community members, particularly the marginalised and vulnerable groups, are empowered to address their developmental challenges.