Zimbabwe is advocating for greater climate financing to support drought management, focusing on prevention and resilience, due to increasing threats to food production, water security, and rural livelihoods.
This call is being made at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD 17th Conference of the Parties COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, which runs from August 17 to 28 under the theme "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope." Samuel Masanga, permanent secretary for the Environment, Climate and Wildlife ministry, highlighted that recurrent droughts necessitate stronger international support for countries like Zimbabwe.
The country, alongside the Southern African Development Community SADC and the Africa group, is pushing for a legally binding global drought protocol to shift international response from emergency relief to prevention, early warning, risk management, and preparedness. Zimbabwe also seeks improved access to international climate and environmental financing through mechanisms such as the global mechanism, global environment facility, and green climate fund. Innovative financing instruments, including drought-resilience bonds, carbon credits, and micro-insurance, are being explored, with potential opportunities from the Riyadh global drought resilience partnership to fund the country鈥檚 drought investment plan.
Masanga noted that this financing could support practical interventions like conservation agriculture under Pfumvudza/Intwasa, restoration of the
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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Mutapa is reportedly looking to reorganize artisanal gold mining operations by introducing contracts, rather than simply shutting them down. This initiative aims to formalize the sector, though specific details about the contracts or the reorganization process are not provided in the article.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term in office, securing 61.4% of the vote in an election marked by allegations of electoral misconduct, violence, and a temporary suspension of vote counting. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared Hichilema the winner with 2,965,326 votes, surpassing opposition leader Brian Mundubile, who received 1,856,217 votes, or approximately 38%. Hichilema, 64, will serve another five-year term, marking his second presidential victory after defeating then-President Edgar Lungu in 2021. Following the announcement, Hichilema thanked voters and extended an olive branch to the opposition, pledging his government's continued efforts to ensure all Zambians benefit from the country's development. His supporters celebrated in Lusaka. Mundubile, making his first presidential bid, raised concerns about the election's conduct, alleging potential alterations to results forms and military involvement at some tallying centers. The Electoral Commission briefly suspended vote counting due to reports of violence against election officials and ballot paper theft before resuming. International observers noted that voting was largely peaceful but expressed concerns about restrictions on political freedoms and an uneven campaign environment. Hichilema campaigned on his government's economic record, including debt restructuring and economic stability after the 2020 debt default. His second term is expected to focus on economic growth, investment, a
China and Zimbabwe have commissioned a joint laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe to advance research in agriculture ecology, cash crops, and climate-resilient farming. Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding stated that the China-Zimbabwe Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Agriculture Ecology and Cash Crops will facilitate joint research, academic exchange, and talent development. This initiative, part of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan, aims to translate advanced technologies into practical solutions for agricultural modernization, improve agro-ecological systems, and strengthen links between scientific innovation and value-added processing. The ambassador noted that this cooperation aligns with Zimbabwe鈥檚 National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030, particularly in ecological restoration, cash-crop upgrading, food security, and rural revitalization. The commissioning ceremony in Harare was attended by Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Frederick Shava, University of Zimbabwe Vice-Chancellor Paul Mapfumo, senior government officials, and Chinese academicians and researchers.