MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Name: Mduduzi Sibanda

Registration Number: R2110541B

MODULE: MLWR 708 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESMENT

Lecturer: Mr. L SAMMIE

Question

In your opinion and with the use of relevant real life examples, how true is it that most
Government of Zimbabwe initiated projects follow the Triple-I (Invite, Inform and Ignore)
model when it comes to community consultation during the EIA.
[20marks]
Introduction
An in-depth analysis government initiated projects in Zimbabwe follow the Triple-I that is Invite,
Inform and Ignore model when it comes to community consultation during the EIA. Past
experiences from mega and medium to small scale infrastructural development projects such as
housing, mining and quarry, irrigation, dams have indicated that the government uses the Triple-I
(Invite, Inform and Ignore) model when it comes to community consultation during the EIA.
Idyllically, public participation in take all the views of all stakeholder to ensure acceptable
planning and project design (Elling 2011). Although public consultation is conducted it often
neglects the views of the public in most government projects which are considered as national
priority. Projects that are good examples include the extension of Valley irrigation in Matobo
District, Osborn dam, Kariba Housing project, Cowdry Park Garikai Housing project and Gwayi-
Shangani Dam. On the other hand not all projects in Zimbabwe follow the Triple I model there
projects were public consultation was done satisfactory these include Tokwe Mukosi Dam,
Valley Dam and irrigation, establishment of Lupane State University just mention but a few.

Most Government of Zimbabwe initiated projects follow the Triple-I (Invite, Inform and Ignore)
model when it comes to community consultation during the EIA. This is common in projects that
are deemed as of national priority. These projects are usually formulated without proper
dissemination of project information among the local communities (Kakonge 1996). The public
is usually invited and informed about the project initiatives. Past experiences have indicated that
project proponents especially the government often make promises during the EIA public
process including promises proper resettlement packages, financial compensation, employment
of local communities and concerns on project design and impacts. These promises are rarely met
at most ignoring the grievances and the input of the public. This was the case, with Osborne Dam
and Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe (Kakonge 1996). Most of the villagers in these areas lost their
land and property with proper compensation.

One of the major concern that facilitates the Triple I model in government initiated projects is
public consultation are deliberately conducted in a matter that disadvantages the public. During
the consultation the government and its co proponents usually exhibit a superiority stance that
sets them apart from the local illiterate communities. Politics tend to take center stage during

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participation especially if the government initiates the project and the politicians have an upper
hand in the government (Mauerhofer 2016). These are particularly important in remote or very
rural areas, and /or where literacy levels are low and where there may be limited access to NGOs
or local administrative systems (Yakubu 2018). For example, through informal small group
meetings, it is possible to identify problems, get ideas or feedback and also to resolve key
problems. There is a high degree of two way communication when this technique is used. This
intimidates the locals and they end up accepting what the superiors are informing them. Public
participation is an open, ongoing and a two- way communication between government and its
citizens (Yakubu 2018). Interactive communication enables both parties to learn about and better
understand the views and positions of the other (Petts and Leach 2000). Public participation in
the extension of Valley irrigation scheme and Osborne dam could have been conducted with the
local leadership onboard rather relying on engineers and specialists from the government. In the
case of the extension of Valley irrigation the local community view were ignored they had raised
concern on grazing land and cultivation land which was becoming scarce even before the project.
The villagers had suggested an alternative site or compensation for their land. This led to the
sabotage of the project through vandalism of infrastructure like the fence.

Furthermore, the planning for the involvement of different stakeholders, such as undertaken in a
stakeholder analysis, should start as early as possible (Clark 1994). The experience in Cowdry
Park Garikai indicated that the public consultation were conducted too late in the project cycle
were most of the decisions on the ground were implemented. Public consultation was done
project designs and its alternative designs have been already finalized and there was no room for
modification or alteration. Hence the consultation was conducted in a reactive manner rather than
proactive. This was intended to convince the public on already decided project rather than a
means to establish a constructive consultation with the public. The public was only invited to be
informed about the project and then ignore the views of the public. The local community had
raised a point of period flooding in certain areas when the rains exceed normal. During cyclone
Idai those with their homes built on flood risk area experienced water flooding their homes and
loosing property. In Kariba a similar housing project was stopped due to a conflict with the
public.

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One of the common approach used by the EIA consultants for government projects in public
consultation in developing countries is the use of large public or community meetings. (Zuhair
and Kurian 2016). Such technique satisfy the goals of the consultant and the government to
invite and inform or dictate projects terms. The risk of such approach is that it favors the
consultants and those attending feel intimidated and often fail to air their views freely pertaining
the project. Usually the meeting will be the only opportunity and chance for the public to express
their views or participate. Usually with the advent of foreigners like the Chinese the locals feel
intimidated , also cultural constrains may also be a factor that militate against active participation
e.g. women and the poor marginalized groups (Premachandran and Aiyer 1992). In such a case
the view of the marginalised are often ignored. This was the case in the construction of Gwayi-
Shangani Dam which displaced close to 500 homestead in Lubimbi village, Binga. The villagers
were invited and informed about the project and ordered to vacate their homesteads. According
to (CITE, 2021) the villagers were not given the platform to air their grievances and they never
received their compensation. The villagers were supposed to be consulted and properly engaged
prior to the finalization of the displacement process (CITE, 2021)

However not all government initiated projects follow the Triple I model some are conducted with
full public consultation. The establishment of Valley Irrigation Scheme 1997, Ward 13 Matobo
district was done with the public fully participating in the EIA. The process was done with the
involvement of all stakeholders, different tools and approaches were implemented, for example
focus group discussions and community meetings were conducted within the community,
questionnaire surveys were also done to understanding the concerns of the public. The scheme
was took over the cultivation land which led to some villager losing their land. Compensation
was done accordingly, in terms of plot allocation those who lost their land were the first to be
allocated plots. The EIA report was translated into isiNdebele and circulated in the community.

Furthermore the establishment of Lupane State University saw proactive approach being taken in
order to seek contributions from all stakeholder especially the public through questionnaires
interviews, and direct appeals. This approach made it possible to fully engage the public. The
public welcomed the project as a means of community development that was going to change
their community for the better. The majority of the community supported the project that was
meant to change the face of their community.

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On the case of Tokwe Mukosi one can argue that the government did not use the Tripple I
model. The government ensured that all the information about the project reaches the local
inhabitants. Consultations and negotiations were done with the proponent which saw financial
compensation of the villagers especially those accepted early the proposal. However some
people did not accept, the challenge was the delay by the government to implement the project.
Those who had moved came back with the view that the project was no longer continuing.

Public consultation for the Luthakane Dam in Matobo district in Ntabasimbi village was
conducted satisfactory without following the Triple I approach. The government contracted a
Chinese contractor to undertake the project. The major reason why the Luthakane Dam
succeeded is that public participation was conducted so well and public awareness campaign was
done way before the project was initiated. This approached developed techniques of rapid
appraisal through increasing public consultation throughout the project cycle. The approach
began with the awareness campaign for district traditional leaders to ensure their understanding
of the advantages of local community in the decision making process. Focus group discussions
were convened which comprised of community members and other key stakeholders. The public
consultation managed to set a platform for the public and the proponent to negotiate and reach a
consensus in terms of conflict area. Usually difficult dilemma arises when local inhabitants, for
example, stand to lose from a project, although the benefits for the greater population-located
some distance away-are great(Hasan, Nahiduzzaman, and Aldosary 2018). This is frequently the
case with infrastructure projects such as dams, which involve resettlement and dislocation. The
area is well vested in ancestral beliefs the villages proposed a ceremony to be conducted before
the project and the proponent agreed. This also made the locals to be part of the project from
onset leading to its success.

Conclusion

Conclusively one can argue that most government initiated projects in Zimbabwe follow the
Triple-I that is Invite, Inform and Ignore model when it comes to community consultation during
the EIA. Projects that are good examples include the extension of Valley irrigation in Matobo
District, Osborn dam, Kariba Housing project, Cowdry Park Garikai Housing project. On the
other not all projects in Zimbabwe follow the triple I model there projects were public

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consultation was done successfully these include Tokwe Mukosi Dam, Valley Dam and
irrigation, Zambezi water pipeline, establishment of Lupane State University.

References

Centre for Inovation and Technology. 2021

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