Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
HARARE – SADC Chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the region must foster a culture of shared ownership for the conservation of the region’s rich heritage and natural resource endowments.
He was speaking during the closing session of the inaugural SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Conference and Summit after a week of deliberations on regional conservation issues at the Harare International Conference Centre this Friday.
“We have shared knowledge, reviewed our collective progress, identified the challenges faced and reflected on the journey of our TFCA Programme. We have come to better appreciate the importance of multi-sectorial cooperation, policy harmonisation, and fostering a culture of shared ownership for the conservation of our rich heritage and natural resource endowments,” he said.
“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, which we seek to protect. Our people should reap and enjoy the benefits of the ongoing conservation efforts.”
President Mnangagwa’s call resonates with broader regional aspirations for sustainable environmental management anchored in solidarity, sovereignty, and inclusivity.
