By Itai Ndongwe
HARARE – ESG and marketing strategist Dr Prosper Mutswiri will headline the 3rd Annual ESG Strategy Workshop in Vumba from 25 to 28 February 2026.
He will address business leaders on the sustainability trends shaping Southern Africa.
Ahead of the event, Dr Mutswiri identified three major ESG shifts. These are the Just Energy Transition (JET), mandatory climate disclosures and climate-risk adaptation.
He said the shift from coal to renewable energy must protect jobs and local economies. He stressed the need for competitive domestic power generation. He also called for the use of High Efficiency Low Emissions (HELE) technologies as thermal power continues.
Dr Mutswiri said structured decarbonisation projects are essential. Regional economies must work to reduce emissions per capita.
He warned that climate reporting is becoming mandatory. Regulators such as the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange are adopting global standards. These include GRI, ISSB, TCFD and IFRS S1/S2.
Companies are also focusing on physical climate risks. These include water shortages, biodiversity loss, floods and droughts. In South Africa, Carbon Tax Phase 2 requires firms to embed emissions data into financial reports.
On social issues, Dr Mutswiri said companies face growing pressure to secure a social licence to operate. This is critical in mining. Firms must show clear community benefits through Social and Labour Plans. They must also support black-owned SMEs under Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment frameworks.
He described a regional “paradox of plenty.” Resource wealth has not always led to development. He called for ESG models rooted in local realities.
On governance, he said regulators are tightening oversight. The goal is to curb corruption and attract foreign direct investment. Strong accountability lowers funding costs and improves credibility.
For Zimbabwe’s mining and agri-processing sectors, he proposed clear KPIs. These include Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, water-use intensity and recycling rates. He also highlighted tailings safety and waste ratios.
He urged firms to avoid greenwashing. ESG must move beyond reporting. It must align with national strategies and development goals.
“ESG balances profit, people and the planet,” he said.
The Vumba workshop will feature panel discussions. The theme is: Defining Your 2026 ESG Strategy: From Insights to Action, Your 2026 ESG Roadmap.
