By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is set to convene a series of high-level meetings in Harare from April 8 to 10 as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to strengthen regional conservation and sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meetings, being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, will bring together officials from Zimbabwe and Zambia to deliberate on the future of the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe, which is currently serving as the coordinating country for the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools TFCA, will host the Joint Management Committee (JMC), Committee of Senior Officials (COSO) and the Ministerial Committee meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the centre of the discussions is the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools TFCA, a landmark bilateral conservation initiative between Zimbabwe and Zambia that was formally established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transboundary conservation area links Mana Pools National Park with Zambia\u2019s Lower Zambezi National Park, creating a vast ecological corridor that allows wildlife to move freely across borders while promoting joint management of natural resources. The TFCA covers thousands of square kilometres along the Zambezi Valley and is regarded as one of Southern Africa\u2019s most important conservation landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officials are expected to review progress made since the signing of the agreement and assess the implementation of the TFCA programme. Key issues likely to dominate the agenda include anti-poaching efforts, tourism development, wildlife protection, community participation and strategies to ensure sustainable use of shared natural resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meetings are also expected to provide an opportunity for senior government officials, conservation experts and stakeholders to chart a way forward for the long-term protection of the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools TFCA is widely seen as a flagship example of regional cooperation, not only safeguarding biodiversity but also opening economic opportunities for local communities through eco-tourism and conservation-based livelihoods. Conservationists say stronger cooperation between Zimbabwe and Zambia is crucial in the face of rising threats such as climate change, wildlife crime and habitat loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Harare meetings come at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to reinforce its position as a regional leader in conservation and environmental management, building on broader Southern African efforts to promote transfrontier conservation areas across the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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