Integrating traditional land custodianship into ESG reporting

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EPHRAIM CHAWONEKA

SUSTAINABILITY is becoming a very important part of how businesses, inves­tors, and governments make informed decisions. Today, companies are expect­ed to focus not only on profits but also on how they protect the environment, sup­port the communities, and maintain good governance according to their nation. This is where ESG (Environmental, So­cial, and Governance) comes in the room.

But in Zimbabwe, the idea of sustain­ability is not very recent, it is a practice some entities are already following.

For decades the local communities and traditional leaders have protected forests, rivers, grazing land, and natural resources by considering them as import­ant elements of cultural values. Many decades ago the ESG became a glob­al business term and many indigenous communities were already practising responsible land management and envi­ronmental protection which adds value to this respectively.

Now, as Zimbabwe continues to im­prove ESG reporting and sustainability standards, there is an opportunity to com­bine traditional land custodianship with modern governance systems.

In many parts of Zimbabwe, land has always been more valuable than just property. It is connected to culture, iden­tity, and community life.

Traditional leaders and local custodi­ans helped in managing natural resources by setting rules on:

l Forest protection

l Water use

l Farming practices

l Grazing areas

l Sacred lands

These systems helped and supported communities who use resources respon­sibly and protect them for future gener­ations.

These practices were not called “ESG” at the time, but they followed many of the same principles or methods that businesses and investors now value in today’s date.

Many ESG frameworks used by com­panies today are based on international standards. While these systems are use­ful, they sometimes fail to fully recognise local knowledge and community-based stable practices.

For Zimbabwe, integrating traditional custodianship in ESG reporting can make sustainability elements more practical and more connected to local institutes.

This approach allows organisations to show that sustainability is not only about policies and reports, but it is also about real community involvement and respon­sible resource management.

Traditional communities have deep knowledge about the environment be­cause they have been living closely with the land for many years.

This includes understanding:

lSeasonal and weather patterns

lWater conservation

lSoil protection

lSustainable farming methods

lBiodiversity preservation

As climate challenges and changes continue to affect many countries, this local piece of knowledge can help in sup­porting stronger environmental planning and long-term progress.

Today, investors and financial bodies are paying more attention to ESG ratings while evaluating businesses and projects.

Companies that show strong envi­ronmental responsibility, community involvement, and good governance are commonly viewed as the more positive side of the entity.

This creates an opportunity for Zim­babwean organisations to make a com­bination of modern ESG standards with traditional sustainability practices.

When businesses work closely with communities and respect local custodian­ship systems, they can build:

lBetter investor’s trust

lStronger environmental responsibil­ity

lImproved governance practices

lMore sustainable long-term opera­tions

Organisations such as ICRA Zimba­bwe are helping strengthen conversations around governance, transparency, and sustainability within the financial and business sectors.

While integrating traditional custodi­anship into ESG systems has many bene­fits, there are still some challenges.

They include:

lLimited documentation of indige­nous practices

lDifferences between corporate sys­tems and traditional structures

lDifficulty measuring cultural and community impact

lBalancing modernisation with cul­tural preservation

To make this approach successful, collaboration will be important between businesses, policymakers, traditional leaders, sustainability experts, and insti­tutions such as ICRA Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has the chance to create a sustainability model that reflects both global standards and local realities.

Instead of depending only on import­ed ESG systems, the country can build work structures that also goes with the value of indigenous knowledge and tra­ditional governance.

This can help:

lGive upliftment to ESG reporting

lImprove community participation

lBuild investor confidence

lSupport environmental protection

lPromote sustainable development

It can also help Zimbabwe in standing out differently as a country that combines modern sustainability practices with strong cultural and environmental values.

Sustainability in Zimbabwe did not start with corporate ESG reports. Many local communities have been protecting land and natural resources for many de­cades through traditional custodianship methods.

As ESG reporting and sustainability ratings continue to grow in the market. Integrating these traditional practices into modern governance structure can create a more balanced and meaningful approach to development and growth.

With support from institutions, busi­nesses, communities, and organizations like ICRA Zimbabwe, the country can easily build a sustainability working structure that is both globally relevant and locally grounded.

Chawoneka is the chief execu­tive of ICRA Zimbabwe. ICRA is headquartered in Dubai. He is a seasoned ex-banker with over 19 years experience in the sector. He is an Insolvency and Business Rescue Practioner and an ardent practitioner in the field of Credit Rating(s).