Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
IT is all systems go for the 16th Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), with Zimbabwe set to present a comprehensive report on the bloc’s milestones since assuming the rotational chairmanship in 2024.
The five partner states which are Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe will converge in Victoria Falls tomorrow and senior officials met on Wednesday to prepare the final agenda ahead of the ministerial session.
Zimbabwe, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Mr Simon Masanga, expressed confidence in the level of preparation following two days of intense technical meetings.
“We’re gathered here to prepare for a ministerial meeting on the KAZA Trans-Frontier Conservation Area. This is very important for the five countries where we sit down to review progress on decisions that the ministers have already made and to look ahead on future plans,” said Mr Masanga.
He detailed the rigorous groundwork that has taken place, including sessions by the Joint Management Committee on Monday and Tuesday.
“Our joint management committee met on Monday and Tuesday basically to prepare for the senior officials meeting and the committee of senior officials was able to meet today and I’m happy to say all five countries were present physically and we went through all the meeting documents in preparation for the minister’s meeting. We are ready for the minister’s meeting,” said Mr Masanga.
He said there was growing institutional strength of the KAZA framework, which spans an arealarger than Germany and Austria combined and is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining savanna elephants.
“All the information that is required, in fact, we have a very progressive report presented by the executive director to ensure that this institution lives forever. We need it because it improves coordination and when we speak at international fora we speak with one voice,” said Mr Masanga.
“There are many areas that the ministers will be able to share with you on Friday but we are happy with the level of preparedness and we can’t wait for the ministers to meet.”
Meanwhile, KAZA TFCA executive director Dr Nyambe Nyambe underscored the strategic importance of the gathering, saying the Ministerial Committee remains the apex decision-making body under the KAZA treaty.
“The upcoming ministerial committee meeting, as you might know, is the apex structure in the KAZA treaty. It approves key decisions, strategies, and related matters, oversees risk management, and reviews progress towards past decisions. All these are key issues, but most importantly is the issue of joint decision-making,” said Dr Nyambe.
Reflecting on the 15-year journey since the treaty was signed in 2011, Dr Nyambe said Friday’s meeting will be the 16th Ministerial session.
He revealed that the agenda will focus on tangible impacts rather than bureaucratic processes.
“We hope to communicate, share all these updates with the honourable ministers and to seek their guidance in terms of what we need to be looking at, what priorities we should be focusing on, and most importantly, how we ought to advance the Gaza vision, “ he said.
