Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
ZIMBABWE has formally taken over the chairmanship of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza TFCA) from the Republic of Zambia. The move reaffirms nation’s commitment to advancing the regional body’s goals, strengthening co-operation, and placing conservation at the centre of its development agenda.
The handover-takeover ceremony took place recently during the 15th Kaza TFCA Ministerial Committee Meeting held in Livingstone, Zambia.
The Kaza TFCA is a visionary initiative spanning five southern African nations — Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It stands as a powerful example of collaborative environmental stewardship and sustainable development. Zimbabwe will lead the initiative for the next two years, building on the significant progress made under Zambia’s leadership.
Accepting the role on behalf of Zimbabwe, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, outlined the country’s vision for the future.
“Zimbabwe is both humbled and honoured to accept the coordination role of Kaza TFCA for the next two years. We take on this responsibility with a clear recognition of the importance of the task before us. The Kavango Zambezi is not just a geographical space; it is a living testament to what we, as a region, can achieve when we come together in pursuit of a shared vision,” she said.
Dr Ndlovu highlighted the foundational importance of Kaza TFCA, describing it as a cornerstone of regional conservation success, offering a model for collaborative natural resource management and cross-border tourism.
“As Zimbabwe assumes this coordination role, we commit ourselves to further advancing the ideals of Kaza, deepening regional co-operation, and ensuring that conservation continues to be at the heart of our development agenda. Together, we must continue to demonstrate that conservation, when pursued collectively, can be both a driver of ecological resilience and an engine for socio-economic transformation for our communities.”
Dr Ndlovu outlined key priorities for her tenure, including addressing critical outstanding issues, ensuring financial sustainability, and enhancing community involvement and beneficiation. She also noted the importance of upcoming international forums, such as the CITES COP 20 in Uzbekistan, as opportunities for Kaza member states to present a unified voice on shared concerns.
The handover ceremony also celebrated Zambia’s successful two-year chairmanship. Outgoing chairperson, Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, Mr Rodney Sikumba, reflected on a period of remarkable achievement:
“Over the past two years, Zambia had the privilege of leading this vital governance structure, providing policy direction and oversight to one of the world’s most ambitious and successful transboundary conservation initiatives.”
He presented a comprehensive list of milestones, including the inaugural Kaza Heads of State and Government Summit in May 2024, which secured a €5 million Euro EU grant and reaffirmed high-level political commitment to the Kaza vision.
Other achievements included the world’s largest elephant survey, which provided essential data on population, distribution, and threats, as well as the development of a policy brief on elephant movement and connectivity to address landscape challenges.
“Major Transboundary tourism initiatives were also launched, including the ‘Rivers of Life’ destination brand, the Great Kavango Zambezi Birding Route, and targeted international marketing campaigns. Critical progress was also made on administrative fronts, including the securing of immunities and privileges for the Kaza Secretariat by the Botswana government and the maintenance of impeccable financial management,” he said.
Minister Sikumba expressed full confidence in Zimbabwe’s leadership.
“Zambia hands over the chairmanship with full confidence in Zimbabwe’s leadership, commitment, and capacity to take the collective agenda forward.”
Dr Ndlovu extended heartfelt appreciation to Zambia.
“Allow me to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of Zambia, which has so ably and diligently co-ordinated the affairs of the Kaza TFCA over the past two years. Your stewardship has enabled Kaza to attract global attention, convene important dialogues, and accelerate impactful programmes for the benefit of our shared landscapes, wildlife, and communities. We salute Zambia for this exceptional service to the region, and we pledge to build upon the solid foundation you have laid,” she said.
The 15th Meeting of Ministers followed a week of intensive technical discussions, beginning with the Kaza Joint Management Committee Meeting on Monday. The gathering brought together technical experts from across the five nations to review progress and prepare for the meetings of senior officials and ministers.
On Wednesday, the Kaza Committee of Senior Officials (COSO) engaged in robust discussions, aligning strategies and reviewing implementation progress, effectively setting the stage for the ministerial agenda.
