By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) has urged Zambia to align with the international movement advocating for the recognition of ecocide as a crime under international law.
ZCCN Partnerships and Programme Liaison Officer, Simon Mwamba, emphasized the critical need for Zambia to join countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have already endorsed the campaign to include ecocide in the statutes of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Mr. Mwamba defined ecocide as the large-scale destruction of the environment, noting that it constitutes a serious violation of both environmental and human rights.
He stated that environmental degradation should no longer be treated as a civil matter subject to minimal penalties.
“Individuals behind corporate pollution must be held criminally accountable for their actions,” he emphasized.
Mr. Mwamba cited a pollution incident on the Copperbelt, describing it as a clear example of ecocide, where affected communities continue to endure the consequences of environmental harm.
“If environmental crimes were criminalized, those responsible would face meaningful justice rather than merely paying fines and avoiding accountability,” Mr. Mwamba added.
ZCCN, established in 2008, is a coalition of civil society organizations that plays a pivotal role in Zambia’s climate governance framework.
The network operates across key sectors including agriculture, water, energy, health, sanitation, and gender, advocating for policies that safeguard both the environment and human well-being.
Mr. Mwamba highlighted that the ICC has adopted a policy framework enabling it to address environmental destruction as a criminal offence.
He called upon Zambia to take advantage of this development and join the coalition of nations supporting the inclusion of ecocide as the fifth international crime under the Rome Statute.
“The responsibility lies not only with the government but also with civil society and the general public to raise awareness and advocate for legal reforms,” he asserted.
Mr. Mwamba further recommended the establishment of a dedicated Environmental Court in Zambia to ensure that environmental violations are addressed with the seriousness they warrant.
He reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to collaborating with government institutions, human rights bodies, and other stakeholders to promote the criminalization of ecocide and to strengthen environmental protection mechanisms within the country.
He was speaking in Lusaka, during the High-Level Dialogue on Environmental Rights Advocacy in Zambia under the LIFT Zambia project, supported by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Danish Church Aid (DCA).
The five year programme—Lives Saved, Inequality Addressed, and Fostering Resilience for Transformation in Zambia—is being implemented under the Joint Country Programme of NCA and DCA, with funding and technical support from their partners.
It is anchored on the belief that lasting social change is possible when civil society is strengthened and communities are empowered to drive their own development.
The project is fostering sustainable transformation by promoting community-led solutions that generate economic, social, and environmental benefits.
