Harare — Africa should take the lead in the creation of a fund to enable the continent fight the effects of climate change, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Francis Nhema has said.

Welcoming Sadc environment ministers at a climate change conference in Victoria Falls last week, Minister Nhema said Africa's main challenge was developing strategies to counter the diverse and complex effects of climate change.

"Africa will suffer more than any other part of the world. Is it not true that it is Africa that does not have technology to mitigate itself from the greenhouse effects?

The meeting was attended by ministers from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia and representatives from the DRC and Tanzania.

"Our main challenge is to develop adaptation strategies that can militate against the diverse and complex impacts of climate change.

"We should suggest practical issues that will realistically assist Africa to adapt to climate change," he said.

Minister Nhema said as Sadc made its final preparations for the 15th Conference of Parties on Climate Change to be held in Denmark, it was imperative to know what role they played in global efforts in mitigating climate change.

"As you are aware climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world today and it is projected that Africa will suffer the most from climate change," he said.