BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Back on home soil and brimming with purpose, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has returned from the COP15 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands with a renewed national vision: to treat Eswatini’s wetlands not just as natural assets, but as pillars of sustainable development.
Touching down yesterday at King Mswati III International Airport from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the Prime Minister shared insights from the high-level conference held from 23 to 31 July 2025. His message was clear – Eswatini must act now to restore and protect its wetlands as strategic infrastructure for climate resilience, biodiversity, and water security.
“Wetlands are not just beautiful landscapes – they are our silent protectors,” the Premier stated passionately. “They absorb floods, ease droughts, and support livelihoods. Our duty is to preserve them for today and for generations to come.”
He was joined at the conference by Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, who also played a pivotal role in placing Eswatini on the regional environmental diplomacy map. She presented the country’s drought response and pollution control efforts, linking them to Africa’s broader climate resilience agenda, including the Abidjan Drought Initiative.
The pair attended key sessions where the Victoria Falls Declaration was introduced – a groundbreaking commitment to make wetland restoration a climate and biodiversity priority. They also explored the Global Wetland Watch digital platform, designed to revolutionise conservation through real-time data monitoring.
On the sidelines, they engaged fellow SADC ministers and UN agencies, advocating for green finance and technical partnerships to scale up restoration efforts back home. They highlighted Zimbabwe’s success in rehabilitating wetlands as a model worth emulating.
Now back in Eswatini, Prime Minister Dlamini has urged policymakers, communities, and the private sector to elevate wetlands from environmental concern to development strategy. “From food security to climate action, wetlands are the missing link,” he said. “Let us invest in their protection as we build a resilient and thriving nation.”
(Pics: EBIS News)
