Chronicle Editor
Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub
ZIMBABWE will be hosting the 2024, 29th Southern Regional Outlook Forum (SARCOF-29) in a development that demonstrates a vote confidence in making the country’s capacity to organise such big events and a safe destination for visitors.
The conference will be held from 18 to 30 August. Zimbabwe will host this regional event just after the 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit. The hosting of SARCOF-29 validates the international community’s trust in Zimbabwe’s ability to provide a secure and conducive environment for such important gatherings.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet of Zimbabwe received and approved the hosting of SARCOF-29 as presented by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Honourable Dr Sithembiso Nyoni.
“Cabinet advises that Zimbabwe will be hosting the 29th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-29)2024 in Harare from 18th to 30th August, 2024. SARCOF-29 will bring together climate scientists from the 15 member states of the SADC region that are expected to come up with a consensus 2024/2025 rainfall season, which will then be shared with stakeholders from around the region.
The hosting of the SARCOF-29 will offer an opportunity to the country to showcase to the region the National Early Warning System infrastructure which the Second Republic has invested in,” said Information Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere in a post-Cabinet briefing.
The coming of the meeting to the country is a crucial step towards turning Zimbabwe into a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism destination, as envisioned by the Second Republic.
According to TourismNi.com, MICE can also be referred to as Business Tourism or Business Events. The website says: “In Northern Ireland alone, it is estimated that conferences generate approximately £50m per annum for the local economy with incentives & corporate travel also generating significant income. In 2016, Business Events were worth approximately €715m in the Republic of Ireland.
Business visitors are particularly attractive given they are worth approximately 3 times that of the average leisure visitor and they tend to visit in shoulder and off peak months of the year.”
The Government has been working tirelessly to capitalise on MICE tourism for economic development.
In March this year, Zimbabwe took the opportunity of its presence at the 2024 Edition of Meetings Africa tourism event in South Africa which was meant to unlock the Meetings, Incentives, Travel, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) to market its potential for the benefit of the country’s economy.
Meetings Africa is the continent’s leading MICE show, which offers a one-stop shop networking platform for destination management companies, international associations, and national convention bureaus.
The National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy blueprint which was produced by Government is expected to drive tourism sector growth as the Government is targeting the sector growth to attain US$5 billion by 2025.
Updating the Meetings Africa conference, the Tourism Authority of Zimbabwe (ZTA), said as international associations are always looking for new destinations for rotational meetings, destination Zimbabwe is present and ready to be considered as a host.
“Zimbabwe is represented by players who are keen on tapping into the lucrative MICE industry and building new contacts for more business as the business tourism sector is characterized by high spenders and large groups ranging from 100 to 3 000 participants,” ZTA said.
Zimbabwe was represented by five tourism operators who are in the MICE business who include African Sun Hotels, Rainbow Tourism Group, Victoria Falls Hotel, Airports Company of Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe International Trade Events (ZITE).
“The fair provides the perfect business platform for the promotion of MICE Tourism as it attracts senior decision-makers, buyers, and influencers from across the globe. In addition, it enables destinations to tap into a wide database of international professionals from the meetings and business travel industry.”
When the country successfully hosts international conferences like SARCOF-29, it can showcase its capabilities in organising and hosting large-scale events, thereby attracting more MICE tourism. This not only boosts the country’s economy but also promotes it as a favourable destination for international conferences and events.
The SARCOF-29 holds immense importance in light of the effects of climate change in the SADC region, which has led to water scarcity and fast desertification.
The conference provides a platform for climate scientists from the 15 Member States of the SADC region to come together and discuss strategies to address the challenges posed by climate change. Given the current El Niño-induced drought affecting the entire region, the conference is expected to delve into crucial discussions on mitigating the impact of such extreme weather events and developing sustainable solutions to combat the effects of climate change.
In 2023, addressing the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe, like many other nations, continues to suffer from the negative socio-economic impacts of increased frequency of droughts, heightened intensity of tropical cyclones and other severe weather events which no country can adapt to or mitigate the impacts alone.
“The ambitious emissions reductions expected from developed countries are urgent and critical to prevent a climate catastrophe. This is critical to ensure that vulnerable communities and workers in traditional industries are not left behind and that the transition benefits all while also creating decent green jobs and promoting social and economic stability,” President Mnangagwa said
“The global economic system, the ways we produce and consume and the resource we use to support economic growth must all undergo drastic changes in order to meaningfully implement the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
President Mnangagwa reiterated calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe which he said hinders sustainable methods for increased agriculture production and productivity which remain essential to the country’s ability to feed her citizens.
“We welcome the first global stock tech at this COP28, which should help us to continuously review, improve and transparently disclose our climate plans. However, the illegal economic sanctions imposed on our country are inadvertently hindering climate action by impending progress in our quest to address environmental challenges,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said Zimbabwe is “walking the talk” on its revised nationally determined contributions as it is offering diverse opportunities for carbon trading in the energy sector through investments in solar, wind, mineral hydro and geothermal power generation.
“This COP28 is called upon to persist in the mobilisation of resources and adopting clear strategies for achieving the promised 100 billion climate finance. Let us all fulfil our responsibilities and use this gathering as another opportunity to carve out a sustainable future for the generations to come. May history remember us as those who took bold and resolute action to preserve our planet,” he said.
The address by President Mnangagwa revealed the commitment by Zimbabwe to fight the effects of the climate change not only in the region but the world as a whole.
It will be proper when the 15 Member States meet for the regional climate outlook at SARCOF-29, to discuss issues revolving around the current El Niño-induced drought, its impact on agriculture, water resources, and food security, and the measures needed to address these challenges.
The forum may also focus on developing early warning systems, enhancing regional co-operation for disaster risk reduction, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.
Hosting of SARCOF-29’s significance cannot be overstated, especially in the context of the effects of climate change in the SADC region. It is an important event, Zimbabwe not only demonstrates its political and economic stability but also plays a pivotal role in addressing the pressing issues of climate change and its impact on the region.
The conference serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of strategies to build resilience against the effects of climate change in the SADC region.
This is an important moment for the region to come together and collectively address the challenges posed by climate change, and SARCOF-29 is a testament to the commitment of the SADC member states to tackle these issues collaboratively.-@muponderichard
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