DUBAI, UAE – Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, has emphasized the importance of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in fostering cooperation and exchanging experiences on addressing climate change and food security.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28, President Mnangagwa noted the critical role of food security for Zimbabwe, an agricultural nation heavily reliant on rainfall for its agricultural production.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change, particularly droughts, which adversely impact agricultural output. To mitigate these challenges, Zimbabwe has implemented measures to conserve rainwater through dams and irrigation systems, ensuring continued food security.
President Mnangagwa underscored the need for continued focus on food security and water management, emphasizing the importance of establishing additional water reservoirs across the country.
For our children 🇿🇼
At COP28, I stressed the urgency of global collaboration to combat climate impacts. Zimbabwe is committed to ambitious climate goals and overcoming challenges, to protect our planet for future generations. #COP28 #ForOurChildren #ZimbabweLeads pic.twitter.com/g6Sf3zOGU9
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) December 2, 2023“In every district, we were building dams to get water, but we sometimes face challenges due to climate change, by getting an insufficient amount of rainwater,” he stated. “Additionally, we annually obtain the amount of grain we need to feed the nation due to irrigation, so we continued to build many dams to ensure food production in light of the climate change we are witnessing.”
President Mnangagwa highlighted Zimbabwe’s participation in COP28 as an opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise in the agricultural sector and food security, a critical area for Zimbabwe and other African countries.
He expressed his belief that African leaders are committed to achieving food independence for their nations and are willing to collaborate with countries with greater food production capacity to support those facing challenges.
“I believe that the majority of African leaders are determined to be independent in terms of food security for their countries, and they will participate so that those countries that have a greater capacity to produce food can do so and support those countries whose conditions do not allow them to meet food security,” he concluded.