By Tendai Keith Guvamombe
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands officially opened in Victoria Falls on July 24, 2025, with a powerful call to action from His Excellency, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and current SADC Chairperson.
Addressing a distinguished gathering of Heads of State, government representatives, diplomatic corps, and environmental experts, President Mnangagwa extended a warm welcome to all delegates to the “Smoke That Thunders,” a living testament to the very wetlands under discussion.
He emphasized the theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” highlighting their critical role in ecological health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
President Mnangagwa underscored the immense value of wetlands, noting they are crucial habitats for approximately 40% of Earth’s species and provide livelihoods for over a billion people. He articulated how wetlands contribute to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication, food security, clean water, sustainable settlements, climate action, and global partnerships.
Despite these invaluable benefits, the SADC Chairperson lamented that wetlands remain among the most threatened habitats, facing degradation from urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change.
He praised the Ramsar Convention for mobilizing global support for wetland conservation, stressing that “Now is the time for us to change our mind-sets and start implementing multi-faceted and collaborative approaches.”
Zimbabwe, which ratified the Ramsar Convention in 2013 and has since designated seven Ramsar sites, is a testament to national commitment.
President Mnangagwa announced that COP15 is expected to endorse the Victoria Falls Declaration, a pivotal document aimed at fostering a legacy of wetland conservation through increased resource mobilization, research, political commitment, and investment.
He stressed the urgency of moving from discussion to implementation, calling for “unwavering political will, concrete commitments, and shared determination” to protect, revive, and wisely use wetlands.
The President concluded by thanking the outgoing COP President, China, and the Convention’s Secretariat for their support, before officially declaring COP15 open.
