1. The Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA), hereafter called “Summit”, was held on 23rd May 2025 in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, under the theme: “Transfrontier Conservation Areas-25 years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.”
2. Summit was opened and chaired by H.E. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of SADC.
3. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government, or their representatives:
| Zimbabwe: | H.E. President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Chairperson of SADC. |
| Malawi: | H.E. President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. |
| Lesotho: | The Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane. |
| Eswatini: | The Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Russell Mmiso Dlamini. |
| Namibia: | The Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Elijah Ngurare. |
| United Republic of Tanzania: | H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council. |
| Angola: | Her Excellency Ms. Ana Paula Chantre Luna de Carvalho Pereira, Minister of Environment. |
| Botswana: | Honourable Mr. Wynter Mmolotsi, Minister of Environment and Tourism. |
| South Africa: | Honourable Dr. Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. |
| Zambia: | Honourable Mr. Rodney Sikumba, Minister of Tourism. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): | H.E. Mrs Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa, Ambassador of the DRC to Botswana and Permanent Representative to SADC. |
| Mozambique: | H.E. Mr. Carvalho Muária, Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the Republic of Zimbabwe. |
Summit was also attended by Ministers from the SADC Member States and the Executive Secretary of SADC.
Summit commemorated 25 years of TFCAs by highlighting the successes and challenges in transboundary natural resource management across the region, and expressed its commitment to the SADC environmental, conservation and development agenda, to be implemented through stronger partnerships with local communities, private sector and national, regional and international partners, and centred on human well-being.
The Summit acknowledged the outstanding value of TFCAs as symbols of regional cooperation, peacekeeping and sustainable development and emphasised the need for continued strengthened collaboration among stakeholders to advance TFCAs impacts, at the regional and international levels.
Summit paid tribute to all pioneers of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas in SADC region including His Excellency Dr. Festus Mogae, Former President of the Republic of Botswana and His Excellency Dr. Thabo Mbeki, Former President of the Republic of South Africa for paving the way towards sustainable conservation of the region’s biodiversity.
Summit congratulated the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for successfully hosting the SADC TFCA International Conference which drew participation of over 500 delegates and over 30 exhibitors from a cross section of stakeholders including government officials, International Cooperating Partners, Non-Governmental Organisations, Community leaders, Representatives of TFCAs, Academia and conservation experts.
Summit urged Member States, Partners and all the relevant TFCA Practitioners to continue with collaborative efforts to maximise the benefits of TFCAs, including using extensive regional instruments, approved by SADC Member States, as part of the implementation of the SADC TFCA Programme, to strengthen the establishment and operationalisation of TFCAs.
Summit urged Member States to strengthen the meaningful and active participation of rural communities including the youth in TFCAs and stressed the importance of accountability to ensure equitable benefit sharing in fostering inclusive conservation efforts across the region’s TFCAs.
Summit urged Member States to consider the development of tailor made, practical and effective approaches to address increased human wildlife conflicts involving all the relevant development and conservation sectors and urged partners to prioritise the development of solutions including legislation to address Human Wildlife Conflict in their support to the region.
Summit urged the international community to recognise the successes made by TFCAs work within the SADC region, including through influencing decision-making processes in CITES to promote sustainable use of wildlife in the region to continue supporting the livelihoods of local communities and increased conservation efforts.
Summit urged Member States to embrace innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs by diversifying funding sources such as carbon markets, biodiversity offsets and bonds, eco-tourism, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to ensure that TFCAs continue to deliver socio-economic and conservation benefits to the SADC region.
Summit urged Member States to promote the establishment of coastal and marine TFCAs, to adequately implement the SADC Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan, a SADC regional framework that aims to promote sustainable use of coastal and marine resources, including fisheries, tourism, maritime transport and ports, and energy, to produce tangible and sustainable benefits to local communities, national and regional economies and biodiversity conservation with regional and international impacts.
Summit urged Member States to strengthen the implementation of the SADC Law Enforcement Anti-Poaching (LEAP) Strategy as an essential tool for the region’s collective efforts in tackling wildlife crime, reinforcing the need for multi-level cooperation among Member States, International Cooperating Partners, and local communities in TFCAs.
Summit commended five Member States namely Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe for accepting to pilot the SADC Tourism UNIVISA, a regional instrument which is expected to simplify travel and promote regional tourism within SADC countries to boost intra-regional tourism.
Summit called for the development of a Regional Carbon Market Framework and acknowledged that Trading of Carbon Credits presents an opportunity for economic development, job creation and access to climate finance and a driver for change that can contribute to fight climate change impacts.
Summit commended His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Chairperson of SADC, for successfully hosting the TFCA Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government and for his leadership in galvanising regional efforts towards promoting regional integration, enhancing biodiversity, and fostering sustainable development.
The Chairperson of SADC expressed gratitude to all Heads of State and Government and their representatives for attending the SADC TFCA Summit and for the commitment shown towards biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and eco-tourism in the SADC region.
Summit expressed gratitude to the International Cooperating Partners for their continued support towards the establishment and implementation of the SADC TFCA Programme.
Done on 23rd May 2025
HARARE, REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE
