Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
ESWATINI Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has commended Zimbabwe for its exceptional conservation efforts in maintaining the natural integrity of the iconic Victoria Falls Rainforest, one of the seven natural wonders of the World.
Touring the majestic falls on Friday morning on the sidelines of the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Wetlands, PM Dlamini expressed deep admiration for Zimbabwe’s commitment to preserving the site in its pristine state
“The tour has been exceptional. It is good, and indeed, this is one of the wonders of the world and no doubt about it,” he said.
PM Dlamini commended the Government for ensuring minimal human encroachment near the falls, which has helped maintain the area’s natural allure.
“I think Zimbabwe has done exceptionally well by keeping the falls as natural as possible. I have noted that even closer to the park, there is no development or encroachment that can either cause pollution or steal the beauty of the area. That is really important and we hope that Zimbabwe will keep it that way and ensure that it is protected for generations to come,” he said.
The Premier, visibly moved by the breathtaking scenery, reflected on the spiritual significance of the natural wonder.
“As I was just walking through and enjoying the outstanding beauty of the falls, it just dawned on me that certainly there is a Creator, you know,” he said.
The Eswatini leader also lauded the expertise of the tour guides who accompanied him, saying their deep knowledge of the rainforest’s ecosystem is amazing.
“I also want to commend our tour guides. They know their job and they are not just telling stories, but they are sound in terms of the scientific principles,” he said.
Beyond his tour of Victoria Falls, Prime Minister Dlamini also shared his thoughts on the ongoing COP15 conference, commending Zimbabwe for its role in hosting a successful summit.
“It was a very good conference. I really felt that Zimbabwe should be happy to have a President who I credit for having a successful conference within Zimbabwe. If you look at the diversity of the participants and the level of the participants, I think, he must have played a very important role in doing that,” he said.
Turning to the core theme of the summit — wetlands conservation — PM Dlamini called for practical, action-oriented outcomes beyond dialogue.
Sharing experiences from Eswatini, he spoke of how small-scale wetland protection efforts had revived endangered species and restored natural water sources.
“I actually got to see it in my own country, where, with the least resources, the team that is responsible for wetlands at home just protected one of our wetlands in the rural area. And then we saw some bird species, some plant species emerging that were now very rare in the area,” said PM Dlamini.
“We can now go and see them. Some of those species are used for medicinal purposes at home. We are seeing wells that were no longer there. We are seeing dams emerging downstream of the wetlands.”
PM Dlamini stressed the need for sustainable urban planning that harmonises development with environmental preservation.
“One thing that I think is important going forward is that we must acknowledge that civilisation is here, and there is no way we can do away with it. We need to be intelligent in how we design our cities, our civilisation, so that we can co-exist with wetlands,” he said.
