Positive Changes in Countries, Part 67 of a Multi-part Series – Improving Governments, Improving Citizens: Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Explore inspiring news from Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, showcasing their resilience, sustainability, and progress in fostering peace, enhancing agriculture, and promoting wildlife conservation, nurturing a brighter future.

Recent developments in Yemen have shown positive signs for peace. In May 2024, more than 100 prisoners from previous conflicts were released by the Houthis and reunited with their families. Yemeni women are emerging as peace ambassadors, promoting dialogue amid conflict. The Qat-to-Coffee Transition Initiative aims to plant one million coffee trees in Taiz by 2025, targeting a production of 400,000 tons. In July 2024, Yemen commissioned its first utility-scale solar power plant in Aden, with a capacity of 120 megawatts.

With 40% of our land protected, Zambia serves as a wildlife haven, home to the African Big Five – lion-, leopard-, rhinoceros-, elephant-, and buffalo-folk. Sustainable tourism has effectively boosted local economies and generated funds for biodiversity protection with the tourism sector projected to grow at an annual rate of 9.35% from 2024 to 2029. In April 2024, Zambia received €110 million from the EU to support its national free education plan.

Cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Zimbabwe and Zambia has significantly reduced elephant poaching. In December 2022, the country launched the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Program, a key initiative aimed at transforming agricultural and food systems. Zimbabwe is making significant advances in human rights by abolishing the death penalty. Furthermore, the vegan movement is gaining momentum, led by influential advocates like Nicola Kagoro, an award-winning vegan chef known as Chef Cola, who promotes vegan culture through her "African Vegan on a Budget" initiative.