Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
LEADERS in the SADC region have hailed the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) as a major milestone in strengthening coordination between transboundary conservation and water management initiatives.
The MoU, signed in December 2024, aims to advance the joint management of freshwater resources within the GLTFCA and the Limpopo River Basin.
Speaking during the just ended SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas International Conference held in Harare, International Coordinator for the GLTFCA, Mr Gwinyai Muti, said the partnership was crucial for achieving sustainable development and conservation in the region.
“The MoU will enhance the sustainable use of freshwater resources, improving ecosystem integrity and community livelihoods within and around the GLTFCA and the Limpopo River Basin. Together, we can create a positive impact on both the environment and the communities that depend on these resources,” he said.
LIMCOM Executive Secretary, Mr Sergio Sitoe, also weighed in, saying the partnership was key towards achieving sustainable development in the region.
“The joint management of transboundary freshwater resources is crucial for ensuring the sustainable use of our valuable freshwater resources within the Limpopo River Basin,” he said.
“This partnership marks a significant step towards achieving our shared goals of conservation and sustainable development.”
The MoU was signed by Mr Sitoe on behalf of LIMCOM Member States. Representatives of the GLTFCA Secretariat, consisting of the Director General of the National Administration of Conservation Areas of Mozambique, Mr Pejul Calenga, the Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Parks, Ms Hapiloe Sello, and the then Director General of the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority, Dr Fulton Mangwanya, signed on behalf of the GLTFCA countries.
The Limpopo Watercourse Commission was established through the LIMCOM Agreement signed in November 2003 by the four Member States — Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The main objective of LIMCOM is to advise and provide recommendations on the uses of the Limpopo, its tributaries, and its waters for purposes and measures of protection, preservation, and management of the Limpopo.
The GLTFCA is a conservation and development initiative of the Governments of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, formally established through an International Treaty signed by the Heads of the Partner States in December 2002 to coordinate the management of shared natural resources among the Partner States.
