Delivering
the
2025
State
of
the
Nation
Address
(SONA)
before
Parliament
in
Harare,
Mnangagwa
warned
that
his
administration
would
act
against
investors
and
mining
operators
who
degrade
the
environment
or
harm
local
communities.
“My
Government
is
committed
to
weeding
out
irresponsible
mining
stakeholders
who
cause
pollution,
degrade
the
environment
and
damage
critical
infrastructure.
As
we
welcome
investors,
we
expect
them
to
respect
our
Constitution,
laws,
and
communities,”
he
said.
He
noted
that
the
Mines
and
Minerals
Amendment
Bill,
already
gazetted
and
expected
to
be
finalized
during
this
parliamentary
session,
will
strengthen
enforcement
mechanisms
and
hold
companies
accountable
for
environmental
rehabilitation
after
mining
operations.
Mnangagwa
said
investment
in
gold,
lithium,
iron
and
steel
projects
had
grown
significantly,
contributing
to
economic
expansion,
but
emphasised
that
such
growth
must
not
come
at
the
expense
of
ecological
integrity.
Turning
to
climate
change,
the
President
outlined
a
range
of
measures
aimed
at
improving
resilience
to
droughts,
floods,
and
other
extreme
weather
events.
“Through
the
Rural
Development
8.0
initiative,
the
drilling
and
rehabilitation
of
boreholes
is
improving
access
to
water
for
production,
village
business
units,
and
domestic
use,”
he
said.
According
to
Mnangagwa,
Zimbabwe’s
irrigation
coverage
has
increased
from
151,000
hectares
in
2019
to
221,000
hectares
in
2024,
with
a
national
target
of
496,000
hectares
to
safeguard
food
production
against
climate
shocks.
He
also
announced
the
adoption
of
the
National
Climate
Change
Adaptation
Plan
and
the
Carbon
Trading
Framework
and
Registry
under
Statutory
Instrument
48
of
2025,
which
he
said
would
mobilise
climate
finance
and
support
green
investments.
“In
response
to
climate
change,
my
Government
has
adopted
the
National
Climate
Change
Adaptation
Plan.
The
Carbon
Trading
Framework
and
Registry
will
help
attract
climate
finance
and
promote
mitigation
efforts
across
sectors,”
he
said.
Mnangagwa
further
underscored
the
need
for
greater
water
security,
describing
it
as
critical
to
energy
generation,
agriculture,
and
community
well-being.
“My
Government
is
scaling
up
integrated
water
resource
management
and
related
investments,”
he
said.
He
also
cited
ongoing
renewable
energy
initiatives,
including
Independent
Power
Producer
(IPP)
projects
and
the
Rural
Electrification
Programme,
which
he
said
are
expanding
access
to
clean
power,
particularly
in
rural
areas.