National

Upsurge in cases of human-wildlife conflicts in Hwange, Matetsi

Published

5 years ago

October 25, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

There is an upsurge in cases of human-wildlife conflict in areas around the Hwange and Matesti wildlife corridor due to over population in nature reserves and water shortages, Environment, Climate and Tourism minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.

Ndlovu told the ongoing 2022 pre-budget seminar for parliamentarians in Victoria Falls that consultations had revealed that increasing competition for resources such as water and food between people and wild animals was becoming increasingly deadly.

“Some of the key causes of human- wildlife conflict identified in the consultations so far are; increase in wildlife populations especially in Hwange and Matetsi areas vis-a-vis the available land area and forage,” Ndlovu said.

“(There is an) increase in human settlements in buffer zones and wildlife corridors and lack of meaningful direct benefits from wildlife hence communities decide to encroach into wildlife areas.

“There is also competition for water resources between wild animals, livestock and communities especially in the dry seasons and during periods of droughts.”

Ndlovu said lack of viable wildlife population control measures, especially in the wake of international restrictions, was also another factor that contributed to an unsustainable growth in wildlife populations.

He bemoaned the destruction of game fences, particularly in areas where human wildlife interactions have been known to occur.

Ndlovu said consultations with key stakeholders and communities indicated the need to re- establish game fences to reduce human wildlife interactions and financing replanning of settlements as well as ensure proper land use planning to avoid wildlife corridors and buffer zones.

“There is also a need to increase water supply in wildlife habitats to curtail unnecessary wildlife movements across park boundaries,” he said.

He said the process was already being done through assistance from international partners such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Frankfurt Zoological Society and the African Parks Network.

Other measures include translocations, increased hunting quotas and expedited implementation of the new Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources modalities to ensure accountability by appropriate authority holders such as rural district councils.

Ndlovu told parliamentarians that his ministry has started consultations to update the 1992 Wildlife Policy, which will contain strategies to address human- wildlife conflict.

“So far consultations are taking place in Matabeleland North province from the 21st to the 25th of October, “he said.

“Meetings have so far taken place in Tsholotsho, Bulawayo and Maphisa and the team will be moving to Binga next week and the rest of the country’s key wildlife areas will be covered in November. ”

National

Zimbabwe export surge, diaspora inflows mask funding gaps in foreign affairs sector

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Zimbabwe is seeing strong gains in export earnings and diaspora remittances, but lawmakers warn chronic underfunding is undermining the country’s diplomatic and economic ambitions.

Parliament heard that remittances reached about $1.8 billion by the third quarter of 2025, while exports rose sharply, helping cut the trade deficit. Lawmakers said the diaspora remains “a vital source of foreign exchange, directly contributing to the enhancement of the nation’s foreign reserves and overall economic stability.”

However, MPs said financial constraints are weakening the institutions meant to sustain that growth. The Zimbabwe Foreign Services Institute received only a fraction of its budget, limiting recruitment and training.

“The staffing shortfall has inevitably affected operational efficiency and the institute’s ability to discharge its core mandate,” the committee report noted.

Lawmakers warned that without consistent funding, gains in exports and diaspora engagement could stall, particularly as Zimbabwe pushes toward an export-led economy.

National

Government pushes vaccines drive as MPs warn of rural access gaps, misinformation

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwean lawmakers have called for urgent action to close immunisation gaps, warning that rural communities remain vulnerable due to weak access and persistent misinformation.

Speaking during Africa Vaccination Week, MPs said vaccines remain “among the most effective, equitable and transformative public health interventions,” but coverage remains uneven.

“Persistent gaps endure, particularly in rural and underserved areas where barriers of access, awareness and trust continue to impede full immunisation coverage,” one legislator told Parliament.

Lawmakers urged stronger investment in cold-chain systems and public engagement campaigns, stressing that immunisation is not just a health issue but “a strategic development imperative” tied to productivity and national growth.

National

EcoCash bill splitting signals rise of social commerce in Zimbabwe

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

EcoCash’s latest bill-splitting feature on its Super App is not just a product upgrade, it is part of a broader shift towards “social commerce,” where financial transactions are embedded directly into everyday conversations.

Traditionally, sending money has been a deliberate, separate action: open the app, enter details, confirm payment. But with EcoCash’s integrated chat environment, that process is being redefined. Payments now happen in the same space where decisions are made — within conversations among friends, families and colleagues.

This development, which is being driven by Sasai Fintech, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, result is a more natural flow between communication and commerce.

This model, often referred to as chat-first payments, is gaining traction globally. Platforms such as Venmo in the United States and Revolut in Europe have popularised the idea of embedding payments into social interactions, allowing users to split bills, request funds and settle expenses within a messaging context.

EcoCash’s move signals that Zimbabwe is aligning with — and in some ways accelerating — this global trend.

Unlike many mature markets where card-based payments dominated before social features were layered on, Zimbabwe’s mobile-first ecosystem provides a different foundation. Mobile money is already deeply embedded in daily life, making it easier to integrate financial services into conversational platforms without requiring a behavioural overhaul.

By placing bill-splitting within its chat interface, EcoCash is effectively turning conversations into transaction points. A group discussing dinner plans can now split the bill instantly. Colleagues organising transport can settle contributions in real time. Families coordinating school fees or groceries can move from agreement to payment without leaving the chat thread.

This convergence of messaging and money is at the heart of social commerce.

From a strategic standpoint, the implications are significant. Each conversation has the potential to generate multiple transactions, increasing activity on the platform while strengthening user engagement. Payments become less of a task and more of a seamless extension of communication.

Industry analysts note that this model tends to drive higher transaction frequency and user retention, as financial interactions become habitual rather than occasional. For EcoCash, the bill-splitting feature is a practical entry point into this space, simple enough to encourage adoption, yet powerful enough to shift behaviour.