Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
HARARE – PRESIDENT Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Southern African nations to continue strengthening knowledge exchange and cross-border cooperation in ecosystem management, emphasising the importance of community-driven conservation strategies.
Speaking at the close of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit on Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), President Mnangagwa who is also the current SADC Chairperson hailed the regional bloc for its united approach towards the protection of shared natural resources.
“For the past 25 years, this initiative has stood as a testament of our unity, solidarity, resilience, and commitment to sustainable development. From its humble beginnings with the establishment of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, to the broad network of transboundary ecosystems we now celebrate, this Summit has reaffirmed the critical role of TFCAs in fostering regional integration, resilience, inclusive growth, and peace-building and fostering a culture of shared ownership for the conservation of our rich heritage and natural resource endowments,” he said
The 2025 SADC TFCA Summit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the programme’s inception.
It comes at a time when conservationists and policymakers across the region are seeking innovative approaches to environmental stewardship amid climate change, population growth, and human-wildlife conflict.
President Mnangagwa stressed the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, policy harmonisation, and placing local communities at the heart of conservation initiatives.
“Our strategies must continue to place communities at the centre of every initiative not only as stakeholders but as co-creators and primary beneficiaries. When we empower local communities, we capacitate the very ecosystems we seek to protect. Our people must reap the benefits of conservation,” he said
With Southern Africa home to the famed ‘Big Five’, President Mnangagwa also underlined the need to intensify regional anti-poaching measures and strengthen the SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy.
“The Summit has also amplified the importance of strengthening the SADC Law Enforcement and Anti- Poaching Strategy. As such, cross-border cooperation should continue to deliver tangible results in the protection of our wildlife heritage. As we return to our respective countries, let us carry forward the momentum built here, towards developing an integrated, modern, industrialised and prosperous SADC we all want. Let us provide transformational leadership that is grounded in the lived realities of our peoples. May this Summit serve a catalyst for a renewed era of action, guided by the SADC TFCA Programme 2023–2033, and grounded in the principles of inclusivity, solidarity, sustainability, and sovereignty. This is more so as we will be celebration Africa Day in two days’ time,” he said.
The summit concluded a week-long SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas Conference, which reviewed progress made in regional conservation, shared best practices, and examined strategies to scale up cross-border environmental governance.
With Africa Day just around the corner, President Mnangagwa’s remarks reinforced the continent’s collective vision for sustainable development grounded in solidarity, sovereignty, and inclusivity.
