Harare, Zimbabwe, 23 November 2018: The Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ), WBCSD’s Global Networkpartner in the country, held its annual conference on 21-22 November at the Meikles Hotel in Harare.
The event, attended by over 100 delegates from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, United Kingdom and Italy, was held under the banner of “Green Industry as a Tool for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in Zimbabwe – Upscale-Replicate-Sustain”. Thematic sessions focused on issues such as climate technologies, renewable energy, safe chemicals management, waste management as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference also marked the 25th anniversary of the BCSDZ, which has been advancing the corporate sustainability agenda in Zimbabwe since its early days when it was called the Environmental Forum of Zimbabwe (EFZ). The membership of the BCSDZ has grown to 100 organizations and 500 individuals, making it the largest network on sustainable development in the country.
BCSDZ Chairman Charles Msipawho, Managing Director of Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, emphasized the need for corporates to scale up on mainstreaming sustainable business practices. The guest of honor, Edgar Mugisha from Atacama Consulting Uganda, urged companies to embrace new business models such as chemical leasing as a means of dealing with emerging challenges. An international speaker from Ghana, Dr. John Afari Idan, CEO – Biogas Technologies Africa, shared experiences on the design, installation and maintenance of biogas plants in Africa including industrial applications. For his part, Tawanda Collins, Executive Director of the BCSDZ, shared experiences on sustainability reporting and sustainability assurance for the benefit of companies that are listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and those that are not listed but are committed to corporate reporting, transparency and disclosure.
Lastly, the conference featured awards for ten companies excelling in energy and water efficiency in Zimbabwe, namely: Delta Corporation; Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited; CAFCA Limited; Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe; Murowa Diamonds; Mimosa Mining Company; Windmill; Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company; Muriel Mine; LafargeHolcim.
More information
- Tawanda Collins Muzamwese, Executive Director, BCSD Zimbabwe
- In this this short video, WBCSD’s Filippo Veglio congratulates BCSD Zimbabwe on its 25th anniversary, and its importance to the Council’s Global Networkof partner organizations advancing the corporate sustainability agenda across the world.
