By Aldridge Dzvene | Positive Eye News
In a powerful and visionary address that resonated across the conservation world, His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, officially opened the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls on 23 July 2025. The President delivered not just a speech, but a bold, unapologetic call to the global community to awaken to the urgency of wetlands protection, policy realignment, and climate justice.
Standing against the majestic backdrop of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, President Mnangagwa reminded delegates that the very existence of humanity is entangled with the fate of wetlands. With unwavering resolve, he described wetlands as “the kidneys of the Earth”, filtering water, storing carbon, controlling floods, and supporting livelihoods. He made it clear that ignoring their destruction is tantamount to abandoning our duty as guardians of life itself.
His Excellency’s message was one of leadership and legacy. He reminded the international audience that Zimbabwe is not a passive participant but an active architect in global environmental governance. Since ratifying the Ramsar Convention in 2013, Zimbabwe has declared seven Ramsar sites and is now scaling up national efforts, including community-based conservation, climate adaptation, and legal reforms. “As Zimbabwe, we are proud to host COP15 because it affirms our commitment to preserving ecosystems that sustain not only our people, but all life,” he said.
The President also used the platform to speak to equity and fairness in global environmental finance. His plea was grounded in Africa’s reality: that while the continent contributes the least to global emissions, it bears the brunt of ecological collapse. He therefore challenged developed nations to honour their pledges to climate financing and technical support, stressing that “without meaningful support to developing countries, talk of conservation remains rhetorical.”
What stood out most in President Mnangagwa’s address was his insistence on a mindset shift, a cultural, political, and generational awakening. He called for schools to include wetlands education, for traditional leaders to guard sacred ecological spaces, and for policymakers to embed wetlands in urban and rural planning frameworks. His speech was not just policy-heavy but emotionally stirring, often referencing the intrinsic value of wetlands to African spirituality, heritage, and identity.
In hosting COP15, Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa has sent a powerful signal to the world: that Africa will no longer wait to be told what to do. It will lead. And Victoria Falls, already a symbol of natural grandeur, has become a stage for renewed international solidarity on wetlands. The President’s presence and leadership at the event elevated Zimbabwe’s voice in global discourse, affirming that environmental stewardship is not just a technical imperative but a moral one.
As the conference continues, the world is now watching Zimbabwe not just as a host nation but as a torchbearer in the fight to protect our wetlands. His Excellency’s leadership at COP15 will be remembered as a defining moment in Africa’s environmental diplomacy.
