HWANGE — As part of COP15 proceedings under the Ramsar Convention, delegates were taken on a field excursion to the Kasibo Wetland near Hwange in Matabeleland North — offering a firsthand look at Zimbabwe’s practical wetland restoration work.
The Kasibo site, led by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), has been a focal point of Zimbabwe’s “wise use” approach to wetlands. Restoration began in 2018 with the fencing of a 2-hectare core wetland zone to protect it from encroachment by livestock and wild animals. This move revived natural water retention, ensuring continuous water flow into two weirs constructed between 2015 and 2017, with a combined capacity of 27,000 cubic meters.
Today, those small dams sustain thriving community agriculture projects. Local residents grow beans, onions, tomatoes, and also practice fish farming. Produce supports household food security and generates income when sold in nearby Hwange. Beneficiaries spoke with pride during the tour, highlighting how restoration has also secured reliable water access for both people and livestock.
“We’re hoping for a local market soon to make it easier to sell our produce,” said Ms. Elizabeth Sibanda, one of the women working on-site.
Mr. Kenneth Phiri, a community leader from Ward 9, emphasised that the restored wetland is now a lifeline — socially, economically, and ecologically.
Delegates also included community members from other wetland initiatives across Zimbabwe, such as Njovo (Masvingo), Musongore (Mashonaland East), Gutu Wetland (Murewa), and Driefontein — the country’s first Ramsar site.
Among the impressed observers was a Japanese Space Agency delegate who commented on the transformation of the landscape: “The difference between the dry terrain from Victoria Falls and this lush green site is remarkable. The community’s work here is inspiring.”
The field visit brought COP15’s themes to life — showing how wetlands, when restored and protected with community participation, become engines of resilience, food security, and biodiversity.
