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Yonge Nawe is a public interest membership based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that works on issues of environment and sustainable development.  It was founded in 1987 by a group of members who were concerned with the state of environment in the country and, also the low level of environmental awareness and participation by the public. 

Yonge Nawe’s Environmental and Socio-Economic Justice Programme focuses on policy, law, compliance and enforcement.  It prompts the organisation to act on environment and development issues that affect socially disadvantaged members of society. 

One of the techniques we use for this campaign is the dissemination of information through education and public meetings.  Yonge Nawe believes that the public has a right to access environmental information and to participate in development projects which affect them directly or indirectly. 

Public participation is crucial: it leads to better development decisions and ultimately reduces conflict between developers and the affected public.  Most importantly, public participation builds the capacity of communities to address their own environmental challenges.

Nhlambeni Public Meeting
As part of her Environmental Justice programme, Yonge Nawe recently organised a public meeting for communities who live nearby the Lusushwana River.  The event held at Emphakatsini e-Nhlambeni focused on issues of environmental pollution from Swazi Paper Mills.

In August 2004 Swazi Paper Mills issued an Environmental Audit Assessment (EAA) report and a Comprehensive Mitigation Plan (CMP) for their existing operations near Matsapha.  Yonge Nawe recognised this as a valuable opportunity to mobilise communities who are affected by the mill’s operations, and to build their capacity to respond to issues of local environmental pollution, as per the requirements of the Swaziland Environment Authority.

The meeting was publicised with the support of local community leaders as well as schools in the area.  Its purpose was to:

• Explain the relevance of the environmental assessment process to the affected local communities;
• Update communities on the stage of development at Swazi Paper Mills;
• Summarise the content of the EAA and CMP to the communities, highlighting areas of concern;
• Give interested and affected parties the opportunity to comment / object where appropriate in accordance with the statutory Public Review.

Future Community Events
Yonge Nawe Environmental Action Group intends to organise similar community events on issues of environmental and sustainable development in the future.  If you have any suggestions or requests for an event in your area please get in touch with Yonge Nawe at the address below.