29/06/2026
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE AND WILDLIFE AT THE BUDULA FESTIVAL
The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, yesterday, participated in the Budula Festival at Boli–Muhlanguleni, Chiredzi District, to advance biodiversity conservation, community empowerment, and cross-border cooperation within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). The festival, rebranded from the Great Limpopo Cultural Trade Fair first held in 2013 and relaunched in June 2025, uses Shangani and Tsonga culture as a pathway to link heritage, conservation, and sustainable livelihoods. The Guest of Honour was Honourable Barbara Rwodzi, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Zimbabwe.
Anchored on the theme of an “active pathway”, the event aimed to demonstrate how culture and indigenous knowledge can support biodiversity conservation in the Transfrontier Conservation Area. Professor Patience Gandiwa, Director of International Conservation Affairs, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Zimparks , gave remarks on behalf of the Director General.
She said Budula celebrates Tsonga unity and shows how Transfrontier Conservation Areas move tourism beyond game drives to create space for community enterprises, skills development, and cross-border trade, in line with the National Development Strategy 2.
Honourable Barbara Rwodzi said culture is a catalyst for inclusive tourism and community empowerment in the Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), while, reaffirming a Whole-of-Government Approach to Heritage-Based Tourism and commended His Excellency President Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.
She described Budula as a model of Community-Based Tourism that connects conservation, biodiversity, entertainment, and gastronomy. The festival is creating tourism entrepreneurship opportunities, including 48 Tourism Homesteads, to turn culture into sustainable livelihoods and authentic visitor experiences.
The festival was coordinated with Mahlanga Centre, operating as Gaza Trust, a local Community-Based Organisation. It convened communities of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, government departments, conservation organisations, tourists and diplomats, researchers, non-governmental organisations, learning institutions, and students. Activities included food and cookery demonstrations, a seed, livestock and wildlife quiz, a model resilient Tsonga home, Xibelani dance performances and competitions, crafts workshops, indigenous products, a clean energy innovation exhibition, and exhibitions by tertiary institutions and corporate entities.
Through the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, the Environmental Management Agency , and the Forestry Commission Zimbabwe , the Ministry is advancing cross-border cultural exchange, women’s empowerment in conservation, and awareness of vulnerabilities facing protected areas and communities. As Professor Gandiwa noted, when biodiversity conservation, indigenous knowledge, and cultural heritage succeed, tourism succeeds. The Ministry is working to ensure that sustainable development benefits reach every community in the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, in line with Vision 2030 and Agenda 2063.
