Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE Government has underscored the centrality of sustainable wetlands management in achieving Vision 2030, noting the need for a holistic approach to protecting the ecosystem.
This came out during the 2025 National Wetlands Day commemorations held in Hwange District this Thursday.
This year’s commemorations also come at a time when the City of Victoria Falls has been designated a Wetland City by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Defence Minister, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, who was representing President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Wetlands Day celebrations in Kasibo Village, indicated the centrality of sustainable wetlands management in achieving Vision 2030.
“Through the involvement of the youths, we can foster a new generation of environmental stewards committed to preserving this critical ecosystem and creating the future we all want.”
Zimbabwe is committed to meeting all its obligations under the Wetlands Convention.
“Zimbabwe is one of the 173 member states to the Treaty on Wetlands, having ratified the treaty in 2014. We are fully committed to meeting its obligations of ensuring sustainable wetlands management through preserving their regenerative capacities and maintaining their pristine state. As such, conservation and wise use of wetlands is a vital pillar of our National Development Strategy,” Honourable Muchinguri Kashiri said.
The Ramsar Convention commended Zimbabwe for preserving marshlands as witnessed at Kasibo Wetland under Chief Hwange.
“I am impressed with what I saw, it shows the country’s commitment to the preservation of wetlands. In most cases when there is a drought like what we witnessed last year, normally wetlands dry, but here, the wetland has not dried up. I would love the world to come and see for themselves what I saw,” the Secretary General for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Dr Musonda Mumba said.
The importance of wetlands in people’s livelihoods was also brought to the fore.
“Wetlands are a source of livelihood as people can get water for Irrigation and other uses. From wetlands people also get fish and other plants hence communities need to preserve wetlands. Since 1990, the world has lost 64 percent of wetlands and deliberate effort must be made to preserve the remaining wetlands and work towards reviving those that dried up,” the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honourable Sithembiso Nyoni said.
“We are deeply committed to the preservation of wetlands as traditional chiefs. We are custodians of the wetlands and it is our responsibility to teach our communities the importance of wetlands,” Chief’s Council president, Chief Mtshane Khumalo added.
Zimbabwe will host the 15th Ramsar Convention in Victoria Falls in July this year.
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is the global body that governs and promotes the protection and preservation of wetlands.
Zimbabwe has seven designated Ramsar sites.
