Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
MATABELELAND North Province, home to the iconic Victoria Falls, is set for a major tourism boost as it prepares to host the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in July 2025.
Cabinet last year approved Zimbabwe’s hosting of the prestigious global environmental event, which will run from July 23 to 31, 2025 in Victoria Falls, a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Speaking during a recent Provincial Development Committee meeting, Matabeleland North’s acting deputy director for business development in the Office of the Minister of State, Mr Stanley Muchipisi, said the event will elevate the province’s global tourism profile.
“We are blessed to have Victoria Falls under the Ramsar wetland protection, where we are going to host the COP15 Convention on Wetlands in July 2025. This is a worldwide event and we are proud to have been chosen as hosts. It’s a great opportunity for us to market the province and its tourism potential to a global audience,” he said.
Mr Muchipisi noted that while the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo has played a critical role in marketing the country’s attractions, the COP15 conference presents a unique international platform that can drive greater tourism revenue and complement other economic sectors.
“People will be attracted here and, in terms of awareness, the globe is now more aware that there is Victoria Falls,” he said.
Tourism has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing economic sectors, contributing 15 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, surpassing traditional mainstays like mining and agriculture.
Over the years, the Government has significantly prioritised wetland conservation. It has mapped all wetlands across the country and established a National Wetlands Policy, along with Wetlands Management Guidelines, to ensure their sustainable use.
The Ramsar Convention is the only international treaty dedicated to the sustainable management of wetlands. It provides a platform for 172 Contracting Parties to jointly work on wetland conservation. Zimbabwe ratified the Ramsar Convention on 11 February 2012 and has since designated seven wetlands as Ramsar sites of international importance.
These include Victoria Falls, Driefontein Grasslands, Middle Zambezi / Mana Pools, Lake Chivero, Monavale Vlei, Chinhoyi Caves and Cleveland Dam among others.
Mr Muchipisi also stressed that hosting COP15 offers an opportunity to raise local awareness around the importance of protecting wetlands and other natural resources for future generations.
“This is not just about marketing the province internationally. It’s also a time to educate our communities on preserving our environment,” he said.–
@SikhulekelaniM1
