The government has taken an important step to include climate resilience in State enterprises and parastatals, recognizing their role in the country’s economic growth.
Mr. Washington Zhakata, director of the Department of Climate Change Management in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, spoke at a workshop on developing climate resilience guidelines. He addressed the gathering on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba.
“This meeting comes at the most opportune time as Zimbabwe recently launched its National Climate Change Adaptation Plan,” he said.
“Our goal is to strategically position the country to unlock much-needed climate finance.”
He pointed out that extreme weather events like droughts and floods are increasingly affecting important sectors, including agriculture, water, health, infrastructure, and tourism.
“State enterprises play a significant role in Zimbabwe’s development, but many—especially those in agriculture and hydropower generation—are directly affected by climate change. If left unaddressed, this could affect their profitability and, ultimately, the broader economy,” he warned.
The government aims to ensure that State-owned enterprises manage climate risks to protect national development.
“Climate-proofing these institutions will have a positive impact on the general population, especially considering the large number of citizens who depend on them,” Mr Zhakata said.
He also mentioned that not adopting climate-friendly policies could have financial consequences.
“Enterprises that do not make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint risk losing access to international finance from development banks and global climate funds.”
Mr. Zhakata noted that global trends, such as carbon taxes on fossil fuel products, show a shift towards climate-friendly trade practices.
“For instance, a tax on goods produced using coal will make fossil fuel-dependent industries less competitive international, ” he explained.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders to create a plan for integrating climate resilience into State enterprises, marking an important step in Zimbabwe’s efforts to address climate challenges.
