By Wallace Mawire
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has launched a climate change ecumenical response strategy for 2026 to 2030 to operationalise the churches Hope Equity Accountanility abd Resilience for Transformation (HEART) strategy 2026 to 2030 by translating its cross-cutting commitment to climate change and environmental stewardship into practical programmes,partnerships and measurable outcomes.
The ZCC is an ecumenical fellowship established in 1964 bringing together 32 member churches represebting approximately three million christians across Zimbabwe.
The launch was attended by the General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, representatives of Government, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, leaders of member churches and ecumenical institutions, representatives of civil society organisations, development and international partners, representatives of academia, the private sector, youth, women and organisations representing persons with disabilities.
Bishop Dr Mhaka, ZCC Environment Commission Chairperson and Superisory Council Member welcomed stakeholders to the Multistakeholder Climate Change Dialogue: Towards COP31, coinciding with the launch of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Climate Change Ecumenical Response Strategy, convened under the theme “Faith Communities United for Creation Care.”
On behalf of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, he expressed his sincere appreciation for stakeholder presence and for continued commitment to addressing one of the most urgent challenges of this time: the climate crisis and its far-reaching implications for people, economy, environment and future generations.
“We gather at a critical moment. As the international community prepares for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, Zimbabwe must ensure that its priorities are clearly articulated, its communities adequately represented, and its climate commitments translated into meaningful action,” he said.
He said the dialogue is not simply another meeting on the climate calendar, but an opportunity to build consensus, strengthen partnerships, elevate the voices of affected communities and agree on practical actions that can shape Zimbabwe’s engagement in the global climate process.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, the climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is a present and lived reality for many of our communities,’ he added.
He said across Zimbabwe, the impacts of a super El Niño, rising temperatures, increasingly erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and devastating floods are confronted placing growing pressure on food production, water availability, livelihoods, public health and community resilience.
He added that for rural households dependent on rain-fed agriculture, climate variability can mean a lost harvest and food insecurity.
He said for communities facing water shortages, it can mean longer distances travelled to access safe water and increased strain on household resources and for women, children, young people, persons with disabilities and economically vulnerable households, the impacts often deepen existing inequalities and make recovery more difficult.
Bishop Mhaka said Zimbabwe contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions while facing significant climate risks and resource constraints.
He said the reality raises a fundamental question of justice and how those who have contributed least to the climate crisis can be expected to carry such a disproportionate burden of its consequences.
‘For the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, climate change is not merely an environmental issue. It is a matter of economic justice, human dignity, accountability, sustainable development and the protection of life itself. It challenges us to examine who bears the greatest costs of environmental degradation, who has access to the resources needed to adapt, whose voices are heard in decision-making, and whether our policies and institutions adequately protect the most vulnerable,” he said.
He said the response must go beyond statements of concern and must address the structural inequalities that increase vulnerability, strengthen accountability for environmental harm and ensure that climate finance and adaptation support reach the communities that need them most.
He said it must also give serious attention to loss and damage, a just transition, and development pathways that protect both people and the natural environment.
He said no single institution can adequately respond to the climate crisis in isolation.
Accordingb to him, government has a central responsibility to develop and implement effective policies, mobilise resources and uphold environmental standards, Parliament has a critical role in strengthening legislation, exercising oversight, promoting public participation and ensuring access to environmental justice, civil society brings evidence, advocacy and community perspectives and academia contributes research and knowledge.
He said development partners and international institutions have an important role in supporting climate action, including through accessible and equitable financing, the private sector must contribute to sustainable production, responsible investment and environmental stewardship and faith communities have a distinct and indispensable contribution to make.
“As churches, we are present in communities before disasters occur, during times of crisis and throughout the long process of recovery. Through our congregations, institutions, schools, health facilities and community structures, we have networks that can mobilise people, raise awareness, support locally led adaptation and amplify the concerns of those whose experiences are often overlooked in policy processes,” he said.
He added that their faith calls them to recognise that creation is not theirs to exploit without consequence but a gift entrusted to their care.
He said the destruction of the environment, the contamination of water sources, the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of land are not only ecological concerns, but are moral concerns that touch on their responsibility to protect life, defend human dignity and pursue justice for present and future generations.
‘Our prophetic calling requires us to speak when communities are harmed, to challenge policies and practices that undermine the common good, and to work constructively with institutions and partners to advance solutions. Faith must therefore find expression not only in our prayers and sermons, but also in our public witness, our institutional practices, our advocacy and our practical solidarity with climate-vulnerable communities,” Bishop Mhaka said.
He said the Strategy represents an important step in strengthening their collective response to the climate crisis and provides a framework through which the Church can move from fragmented initiatives towards more coordinated, sustained and impactful engagement in ecological justice.
The Strategy is anchored on three interconnected pillars first, Advocacy and Public Witness, through which they will strengthen the prophetic voice of the Church, engage policy processes, promote accountability and advocate for climate policies that respond to the needs and rights of vulnerable communities.
Second, Adaptation and Resilience, through which they seek to strengthen community capacity to anticipate, withstand and recover from climate-related shocks, while promoting locally led solutions that draw on community knowledge, experience and initiative.
Third, Institutional Stewardship and Ecological Transformation, through which we they encourage churches and church institutions to demonstrate responsible environmental stewardship and embed ecological care in their governance, operations, resource use and institutional culture.
Bishop Mhaka said the pillars must not remain aspirations on paper, but must be translated into measurable commitments, adequately supported programmes and visible changes in our communities and institutions.
‘The success of this Strategy will depend on the willingness of our member churches, ecumenical partners, communities and stakeholders to own its priorities and work together towards their realisation,’ he said.
He invited member churches and all partners to regard the Strategy not simply as a ZCC document, but as a shared framework for collective action.
‘We must ask ourselves what each institution can contribute, what partnerships need to be strengthened, what resources can be mobilised and how progress will be monitored,” he said.
He said their attention to COP31 is to ensure that Zimbabwe’s priorities are not lost in the broader international negotiations.
“We must advocate for climate finance that is accessible, predictable and responsive to the needs of developing countries and vulnerable communities. We must press for stronger support for adaptation, meaningful responses to loss and damage, and just transition pathways that protect livelihoods while promoting sustainable development. We must also insist on inclusive climate governance in which women, young people, persons with disabilities and communities directly affected by climate change are not merely consulted, but meaningfully influence the decisions that shape their lives.” He said.
“We must also recognise that our engagement cannot end when COP31 concludes. International commitments only become meaningful when they inform national policies, guide resource allocation, strengthen institutional accountability and improve the lives of ordinary people. Our work must therefore continue beyond the conference, with clear responsibilities, sustained collaboration and mechanisms for tracking progress,” he said.Speaking of behalf of the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment,, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Benjamin Mandevele, Principal Climate Change Officer said the occasion marks an important milestone in strengthening the participation of faith-based organisations in Zimbabwe’s collective response to climate change and advancing the national agenda on environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Dr Mandeve,e said climate change remains one of the most pressing development challenge of this time, threatening livelihoods, economic growth, food and water security, public health and the sustainability of our natural ecosystems.
‘Its impacts are becoming increasingly evident through rising temperatures, recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, floods and other extreme weather events. These challenges are particularly pronounced in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, where a significant proportion of the population depends on climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, water resources and natural ecosystems. The devastating impacts of the 2023/2024 El Niño-induced drought serve as a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern, but an immediate threat to national development, human well-being and economic stability,” he said.
He said of particular concern is the disproportionate burden of climate change on vulnerable communities, including women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and rural populations, who often have the least capacity to withstand and recover from climate-related shocks.
He commended the Zimbabwe Council of Churches for developing the Climate Change Ecumenical Response Strategy (2026–2030) saying the development of the Strategy is both timely and significant, as it demonstrates the growing recognition that responding to climate change requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
He said the Church occupies a unique and influential position in the Zimbabwean society.
He added that through its extensive networks, grassroots presence, educational institutions and community development programmes, the Church has the capacity to reach communities that are often underserved by conventional climate communication and intervention mechanisms.
“Beyond its institutional reach, the Church carries a strong moral responsibility to promote environmental stewardship, social justice and the protection of human dignity,” he said.
The Ministry encouraged the ZCC to strengthen partnerships with Government institutions, local authorities, development partners, the private sector and other civil society organisations saying such collaboration will be essential in mobilising technical expertise, financial resources and institutional support required to translate the Strategy into impactful programmes.