Process to acquire an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certificate
The initial stage is for the developer to submit a prospectus to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) which has 10 days to review the document. (document can be prepared by project developer or consultant)
The prospectus is a short document with project description, location (a colour location map to be attached), baseline environmental setting, major anticipated environmental impacts of the project, possible mitigation measures, project cost, terms of reference and legal framework.
Prospectus is submitted upon payment of a review fee of USD115.00
When the prospectus has been approved, the developer engages a registered independent consultant to prepare the EIA report and submit to EMA which has 30 days to review and issue an EIA certificate/notify the developer of the decision. The EIA consultants register is available on the EMA website www.ema.co.zw.
The EIA report is submitted upon payment of a review fee which ranges from 0.8% to 1.2% of the total project cost, depending on the type of project to be implemented. The higher the severity of potential impacts, the higher the review fee. (The maximum payable EIA review fee is USD2 million). Payment can be staggered in 3 phases.
The EIA certificate is valid for 2 years and renewable every year thereafter at a cost of USD210.00
NB:
3 copies of the document should be submitted to EMA for review (both prospectus and EIA report)
A 5% administration fee will be charged on all fees
Value Added Tax (VAT) shall be charged on all fees at the prevailing rate in accordance with the VAT Act (CAP 23:12)
Conversion of fees from USD to ZWL will be done at the prevailing exchange rate