Public interest litigation as an empowerment tool: The case of the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust and diamond mining in Zimbabwe

To address problems of exploitation faced by mining communities in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) has used public interest litigation as part of a wider strategy to empower communities affected by mining. Although the public interest case highlighted in this publication was ultimately dismissed, it has resulted in a number of positive outcomes, including more communities asserting their rights and being given a voice to participate in policy and decision-making processes. ZELA has learned that in a context like Zimbabwe where both the political and legal frameworks pose formidable challenges, public interest litigation should be used as part of a wider set of legal empowerment strategies, including legal literacy, advocacy and community mobilization.

Year Published: 2013
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Uploaded on: Apr 01, 2014
Last Updated: Dec 04, 2015
Issues: Community / Customary Land Rights, Criminal Justice, Environmental Justice, Legal Aid & Public Interest Law Tool Type: Laws, Policies & Legal Analysis, Reports / Research Method: Negotiating with Private Firms, Promoting Citizens' Participation in Governance, Research Languages: English Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa