From left: Mr Domingos Gove, Ambassador Tedious Chifamba (centre) and Professor Gandiwa briefing journalists in Harare on the upcoming TFCA International Summit
By Dickson Bandera
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat has applauded Zimbabwe for its commitment and political will in hosting the upcoming Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) International Summit, the first of its kind in the region.
Speaking to the press on Friday afternoon, SADC’s Director of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the SADC Secretariat, Mr. Domingos Gove, expressed deep appreciation for Zimbabwe’s leadership and dedication to advancing regional conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
“The SADC Secretariat would like to thank His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, the Government of Zimbabwe, and the people of Zimbabwe for accepting to host this very important meeting,” said Mr. Gove.
“This is the first-ever meeting of TFCAs in the SADC region, and I think we have to express our gratitude for all the commitment, political will, and support that the Government and the people of Zimbabwe have provided for us to be able to organize this meeting,” he added.
Mr. Gove noted that the summit is expected to draw approximately 500 participants—or more—from across the globe.
“You will recall that TFCAs are not only bearing fruits for the SADC region, but they are also bearing fruits for the entire world. That is why we will have participants from all corners of the globe joining the region to commemorate 25 years of transformation,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of the summit in setting a strategic path for the future of conservation and regional integration.
“We will be looking for the guidance of the Heads of State, which is the highest political authority, for the work we will need to implement over the next 10 to 20 years. We are confident that this will be a very successful meeting,” Mr. Gove concluded.
Understanding TFCAs and Their Regional Impact
Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) are large ecological regions that span across national borders and are jointly managed by two or more countries. These areas are designed to promote biodiversity conservation, foster regional cooperation, and stimulate eco-tourism and socio-economic development. TFCAs are unique in that they integrate conservation efforts with sustainable livelihoods, often involving local communities in decision-making and management.
In Southern Africa, notable TFCAs include the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA—which spans Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—and the Great Limpopo TFCA, shared by Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. These initiatives are central to SADC’s regional conservation strategy and are seen as practical models for transboundary natural resource governance.
The upcoming summit not only marks 25 years since the inception of the TFCA concept in the region but also serves as a platform to reflect on achievements, address emerging challenges such as climate change and human-wildlife conflict, and chart a unified path forward for the next two decades.
