THE Wetland City of Victoria Falls has launched its first-ever Sustainability Monograph, a landmark document aimed at preserving its international wetland status and securing its renewal after six years, among other key objectives.
Launched this Tuesday in the resort city, the Sustainability Monograph marks a significant milestone in Victoria Falls’ journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Director in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Washington Zhakata emphasised that achieving net-zero emissions and protecting climate-vulnerable ecosystems is a shared responsibility, one that includes local authorities.
“This forward-thinking initiative aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s broader Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and our pursuit of a net-zero future. Through wastewater reuse, wetland conservation, renewable energy investments, and sustainable tourism practices, Victoria Falls is not only creating local benefits but also positioning itself to generate carbon credits and tap into climate finance mechanisms for greater impact.”
For the City of Victoria Falls, adopting these strategies brings multiple benefits, from lowering carbon emissions to fostering a healthier and more vibrant community.
“By prioritising sustainability, Council can attract investment and carbon financing, conserve natural resources, and enhance tourism, thereby creating new job opportunities for residents. A greener city enhances quality of life, increases citizen satisfaction, and enables more effective service delivery through reduced operational costs,” City of Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube said.
Environmental consultant, Mr Anglistone Siband,a noted that eco-sensitive travellers are more likely to visit destinations aligned with sustainability principles.
“That alone attracts environmentally conscious tourists. The incentive is simple, when you visit Victoria Falls, you are visiting a carbon-neutral city. You offset your emissions from wherever you have travelled, from Spain or beyond, just by being here. We now need alignment from tourism operators to green their facilities in line with the Monograph. That is what will make Victoria Falls the safest, most viable, and environmentally friendly city in the world,” he noted.
The Sustainability Monograph provides a practical roadmap for transforming Victoria Falls into a green, smart, and resilient city, in alignment with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
The document outlines the city’s ambitions in climate leadership, smart urban planning, environmental innovation and a broader green transition.
It also reinforces Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy One (NDS1) and the country’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement, particularly the national goal to reduce per capita emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Drawing on the example of Cape Town in South Africa, which earned 46 million Rand through a carbon credit project last year, it is hoped that Victoria Falls could follow a similar trajectory.
Victoria Falls becomes only the second city in Zimbabwe to launch such a document, after Bulawayo, which embarked on a similar initiative in February this year.
