Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is an independent environmental regulator and coordinating agency, established through an Act of Parliament, the Environmental Management Act no 12 of 2011. It is mandated to do all such things as are necessary to protect the environment and control pollution, so as to provide for the health and welfare of persons, animals, plants and the environment. ZEMA is governed by a board which provides strategic direction, develops policies approves its work plans and budget as well as monitoring of its functions as it relates to administration of the EMA.
MANDATE
“To ensure sustainable management of natural resources, protection of the environment and prevent and control pollution“
MISSION
“To safeguard human welfare and the environment, through effective environmental management for present and future generations"
VISION
“To be a world class environmental management authority that promotes quality service delivery for sustainable development"
CORE VALUES
Committed to upholding our values of customer service, integrity, transparency, accountability and partnerships by:
- Treating every customer/client with respect, dignity and fairness;
- Upholding high standards of professionalism and ethics;
- Ensuring transparency and openness in all our dealings at every level;
- Ensuring that we are individually and collectively accountable for all we handle and all we do, including people, resources, decisions and actions;
- Working with all, for the current and future generations, through strong partnerships at individual, household, community, sector, national, regional and global levels; and
- Upholding the law as established.
FUNCTIONS OF ZEMA
Advising government and the private sector on environmental management and pollution control matters
Monitoring trends of natural resource usage and resulting impacts on the environment
Advising the Minister on declarations of protected areas and their management
Gathering and disseminating information to the public on environmental protection and pollution control
Initiating and promoting research, training & investigations in environmental management
Coordinating the implementation of activities of ministries & other authorities in environmental management
Conservation of biodiversity
Licensing undertakings and processes involving waste water, hazardous waste, Ozone Depleting Substances and chemicals
Ensuring the integration of environmental concerns in national planning
Environmental management through tools such as SoE, NEAP, Environmental Management Strategies, EIA & SEA
Environmental protection and pollution control including;
THE BOARD
The board is comprised of:
- Chairman Appointed by the Minister
- Representatives from Government Ministries
- Representatives from the Statutory Bodies
- Representatives from the Private Sector
- representative from an Environmental NGO
The board performs its functions through four Committee namely:
- Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), which is responsible for review of all technical reports produced by the institution. Membership is drawn from various institutions and experts are incorporated when dealing with specific scientific issues. The committee meets quarterly.
- Projects Approval Committee (PAC): This committee is responsible for review and approval of all Environmental Impact Assessment of development projects submitted to ZEMA. The committee meets monthly.
- Finance, Administration and Projects Monitoring Committee: This committee is responsible for approving work plans and budgets for the institution, overseas administration and monitoring the implementation of all projects administered by the institution. The committee meets quarterly.
- The Audit Committee: This committee was established in 2009, and monitors the activities of the internal audit and implementation of the Risk and Audit protocol which was adopted in 2009.
