Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE First Lady of Zimbabwe, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, has received extraordinary regional recognition for her efforts to promote tourism, with the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) Ministerial Committee commending her initiative to bring together ten thousand women from all ten provinces to experience the majestic Victoria Falls.
The commendation came during the 16th Ministerial Committee Meeting held in Victoria Falls on Friday, where five member states were represented by their respective ministers.
The ministers who attended the meeting included Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and current Chair of the KAZA TFCA Ministerial Committee; Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism, Indileni Daniel of Namibia (represented by Deputy Minister Anselm Marungu), Marcio De Jesus Lopes Daniel of Angola (represented by Baltazar Diogo Cristovao) and Mr Evans Muhanga, Permanent Secretary from Zambia.
The KAZA TFCA is the world’s largest transfrontier conservation area, spanning approximately 520 000 square kilometres across five countries.
The initiative is a partnership that unites Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe under a shared vision for sustainable development and tourism. It is home to nearly half of the world’s remaining savanna elephants and includes three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the iconic Victoria Falls.
The official Joint Communique released after the meeting specifically recognised the First Lady’s work, noting the successful hosting of an excursion during the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women.
“The Ministerial Committee commended the Partner States for the following national achievements: Zimbabwe, for successfully hosting the Zimbabwe Funders Roundtable and advancing a shared roadmap to strengthen the biodiversity economy through coordinated conservation, community stewardship, and sustainable financing, as well as for the landmark excursion convened by the First Lady during the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women, which brought together ten thousand women from all ten provinces to experience the Victoria Falls Rainforest,” reads the Communique.
The excursion, which took place in April, was facilitated by Dr Mnangagwa, who is the Patron of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
For many of the women, it was their first time witnessing the Smoke that Thunders.
The event was described as a powerful gesture of inclusion, allowing women from diverse backgrounds to connect with their national heritage.
Beyond the KAZA recognition, the First Lady continues to receive international acclaim for her gastronomy tourism initiatives. Her work in reviving traditional Zimbabwean cuisine has drawn praise from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
During the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands held in Victoria Falls last year, UNESCO Director-General Ms Audrey Azoulay visited a kitchen set up by the First Lady, describing it as much more than a kitchen.
“It is a national initiative building on the biodiversity of the country… to support local communities, especially women, who harvest these vegetables, cook them, and prepare dishes that represent the country,” Ms Azoulay said.
Since launching the gastronomy concept in 2019, the First Lady has organised nationwide cookout competitions that have empowered rural women and preserved Zimbabwe’s culinary heritage. Her efforts earned her an invitation to the UNWTO Global Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Spain in 2023, where she was recognised for pioneering gastronomy tourism in Africa.
The recognition from the KAZA Ministerial Committee places the First Lady’s community-focused tourism model firmly on the regional agenda, showcasing Zimbabwe as a leader in inclusive and heritage-based tourism.
