Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve in VICTORIA FALLS
ZIMBABWE is ready to host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP15), which kicks off here tomorrow.
Delegates started arriving yesterday ahead of the official opening ceremony by President Mnangagwa on Thursday.
The high-level global event, the first-of-its-kind to be held in Zimbabwe, will see 172 governments converging under the Ramsar Convention to deliberate on wetlands conservation, sustainable use and restoration.
Over 2 500 delegates have registered, with early arrivals including ministers, environmental experts, and the Convention on Wetlands Secretary-General, Dr Musonda Mumba, who was received on Sunday by Environment, Climate and Wildlife Permanent Secretary Ambassador, Tadeus Chifamba.
The ministry has confirmed that all logistical and programme arrangements are in place, with final touches being made to exhibition pavilions at the conference venue, Elephant Hills Hotel.
Deputy Director of communication and advocacy, Mrs Joyce Chapungu, expressed excitement over the historic event.
“Finally, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands is here, just a few hours away, and we are excited as a nation for the opportunity to host such a prestigious event,” she said.
“It’s the first time in Zimbabwe to host such an event where 172 governments are going to be converging in the wetland-accredited city of Victoria Falls. Preparations are almost complete, we are ready to receive the world in Victoria Falls.”
Mrs Chapungu said that key figures, including Dr Mumba and several international ministers, had already arrived, signalling the global significance of the conference.
The official opening ceremony will be presided over by President Mnangagwa on Thursday followed by a high-level segment featuring policy discussions among ministers and global environmental leaders.
Delegates will also participate in technical sessions, workshops, and exhibitions, including a dedicated Zimbabwe Pavilion where the country will showcase its wetlands management strategies, policies, and community-based conservation efforts.
“Of note is the Zimbabwe Pavilion, where the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, together with its parastatals and other stakeholders in wetland management, are going to be showcasing Zimbabwe’s wetlands journey, how as a country we’ve been managing our wetlands through various strategies and policies,” she said.
A highlight of the conference will be a field excursion to Kasibo Wetland in Hwange, where delegates will witness firsthand Zimbabwe’s community-led wetland restoration initiatives.
“We want to showcase reality on the ground how we, as Zimbabwe, are managing our wetlands in the communities in a Zimbabwean context,” said Mrs Chapungu.
“Something that is real, that is on the ground, that is not fake, that is not spiced up, no makeup to it, the real Zimbabwean community projects.”
COP15 comes at a critical time as nations intensify efforts to combat climate change and bio-diversity loss. Wetlands, which are vital for water filtration, flood control, and carbon storage, have been declining globally, making this conference a key platform for policy alignment and action.
Zimbabwe’s hosting of the event underscores its commitment to environmental sustainability and positions Victoria Falls as a hub for international conservation dialogue.
With the stage set, the world’s eyes are now on Victoria Falls as Zimbabwe prepares to lead crucial discussions on preserving one of the planet’s most essential ecosystems.
