Bulawayo,(New Ziana) – The government has stepped up efforts to promote sustainable wetland management as the country joins global commemorations of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (IYRP2026), with a series of activities underway in Matabeleland South and Bulawayo provinces.
The commemorations are being held under the theme “Regenerating Shared Landscapes – Integrating Emergent Outcomes from Pastoralist Lifestyles for Prosperity, Sovereignty and Resilience”.
They have brought together government, development partners and communities to strengthen climate resilience, livestock production and environmental protection.
The commemorations are being convened by the government in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), International Livestock Research Institute and Shangani Holistic.
Speaking during at the commemorations in Nyozani, Ward 18 in Insiza District, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development deputy minister, Davis Marapira said sustainable management of wetlands and grazing areas was now critical to the country’s agricultural transformation and climate adaptation agenda.
“We commend communities in Insiza for taking deliberate steps to protect wetlands and grazing lands. Wetlands are a strategic national resource because they sustain water sources, support biodiversity and preserve ecosystems that are essential for agriculture and livestock production,” he said.
He warned that destruction of wetlands through veld fires, stream bank cultivation and unsustainable land use practices threatens food security and rural livelihoods.
“If wetlands disappear, communities will face serious water shortages, loss of pasture and declining agricultural productivity. Preserving these ecosystems is therefore central to building resilient communities and protecting future generations,” he said.
Marapira announced that government will establish a two-hectare rangeland demonstration centre in the district as part of broader interventions aimed at improving livestock feed systems and enhancing rural incomes.
“The demonstration centre will support livestock feed production, nutrition gardens, fish farming and road runner chicken projects.
“This initiative is part of government’s wider strategy to improve grazing systems and strengthen livestock resilience following the challenges experienced during the 2023/2024 drought season,” he explained.
Marapira indicated that the country was now scaling up the production of drought-tolerant and high-nutrition grass varieties to improve pasture availability and reduce livestock losses during dry periods.
“We are moving towards climate-smart agriculture and sustainable pasture management systems that guarantee long-term food security, economic empowerment and environmental protection,” he said.
Experts attending the event said rangelands and wetlands remain vital for Zimbabwe’s predominantly livestock-dependent communities, particularly in semi-arid regions where communities depend on natural grazing systems.
New Ziana
