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Can GPS tracking reduce cases of vulture poisoning in Zimbabwe?

Published

3 years ago

December 13, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A leading African conservation organisation is exploring ways to utilise technology to curb the poisoning of vultures in Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.

The two game reserves are said to be the most affected by the poisoning of vultures.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), which is dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems in southern and east Africa, says it will use vultures as their “Eye In The Sky” to raise alerts about poisoning incidents.

Data would be transmitted from GPS-tracked vultures and sent to monitors, which will enable a more rapid response to potentially deadly incidents.“The issue is exacerbated by the poisoning of vultures as sentinel species in association with the ivory trade, and other poaching practices, as well as targeting these birds for belief-use trade in their body parts,” said Andre Botha, the Vultures for Africa programme manager at EWT.

“Vultures are targeted as their visible presence with large numbers descending from the skies and perching near to, or feeding on poached wildlife, alerts law enforcement staff to poaching or poisoning events.

“Their remarkable sentinel function has led to the extensive persecution of vultures across the continent.”

Gareth Tate, Birds of Prey programme manager at the EWT, said the technology will result in quicker reaction to poisoning incidents.

“In essence, when a vulture is killed on a poisoning scene, the immobility triggers an alert within minutes of death, allowing us to pinpoint the sites where vultures have died and respond rapidly and decontaminate the scenes to prevent further loss of vultures and other animals that would otherwise go undetected, or be detected too late,” Tate said.It is sad that vultures have to die to detect some of these events, but by sending an early alert signal to us they save the lives of countless other wildlife and allow us to rescue animals that have survived these poisoning events.”Deborah Kahatano, chief of party for USAID’s VukaNow Activity, which is supporting the EWT innovation, said one of their core objectives was to increase the application of effective tools, technologies, and approaches that mitigate wildlife crime, while also working closely with communities to address these issues.

“The vision for this work is to expand the network of GPS-tracked vultures throughout poisoning hotspots across Africa and incorporate multiple partners and landscapes to uptake the Eye in the Sky poisoning detection system, while continuing to focus on additional proactive conservation measures to address the major indiscriminate threat of poisoning,” Kahatano said.

“This includes undertaking community work and targeted workshops with traditional medicine practitioners to raise awareness around the use of poisons to harvest vulture body parts and its risks to human health, and facilitating improved judiciary and law enforcement response, leading to more arrests being made.”

The first Saturday in September marks International Vulture Awareness Day, which is intended to highlight the conservation of vultures that face a range of threats.

This article is reproduced here as part of the African Conservation Journalism Programme, funded in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe by USAID’s VukaNow: Activity. Implemented by the international conservation organization Space for Giants, it aims to expand the reach of conservation and environmental journalism in Africa, and bring more African voices into the international conservation debate. Written articles from the Mozambican and Angolan cohorts are translated from Portuguese. Broadcast stories remain in the original language.

Hwange

Hwange Central finally receives long-awaited CDF funds

Published

3 days ago

January 7, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Hwange Central constituency has finally received its long-awaited Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation, marking the first disbursement since 2022, Member of Parliament for the area, Fortune Daniel Molokele, has confirmed.

In a statement, Molokele said an amount of ZiG 1.3 million was deposited last week into a special bank account set up exclusively to administer CDF funds for the constituency. The disbursement falls under the 2024 national budget, following confirmation from the Parliament of Zimbabwe that no CDF disbursement will be made under the 2023 national budget.

He further noted that there is still no clarity on when CDF allocations under the 2025 and 2026 national budgets will be released.

“With this development, our local CDF Committee will, during the coming week, initiate the process of rolling out the approved projects,” said Molokele.

Priority Wards and Projects

The initial phase of implementation will cover five wards, namely Wards 1, 4, 5, 6 and 14, with the remaining wards expected to benefit under the next CDF disbursement.

According to minutes from a public consultation meeting held on 13 April 2024 at St Ignatius Primary School in Hwange, the community unanimously prioritised solar-powered boreholes with JoJo tanks and fenced nutritional gardens as the flagship project for the 2024 CDF cycle.

The project is set to be implemented at the following locations:

Ward 1: Chibondo
Ward 4: Baghdad
Ward 5: Empumalanga
Ward 6: Phase Four
Ward 14: Ngumija

Other proposals discussed at the meeting included the construction of an Advanced Level laboratory science facility at Nechilisa Secondary School and the refurbishment of Nengasha Stadium, but these were deferred in favour of addressing water and food security.

CDF Committee in Place

The public meeting also elected a new 2023–2028 CDF Committee, comprising:

Alice Phiri (Trade Unions, Women and Local Communities)
Luka Katako (Traditional Leaders and Faith-Based Leaders)
Bryan Nyoni (Youth and Local Communities)
Shonipai Muleya (Finance and Accounting)

Francisca Ncube was nominated as the National Assembly representative, while Teresa Kabondo will represent the constituency in the Senate.

The CDF bank account signatories and procurement committee members include Molokele, Luka Katako, Thulani Moyo and Alice Phiri.

Funding Clarifications

Although earlier discussions indicated that the 2024 allocation would include outstanding funds from 2023—bringing the total to an estimated USD100 000, to be disbursed in ZiG at the interbank rate—the Speaker of Parliament later clarified that the 2023 CDF allocation was no longer available.

“As a result, each constituency ended up receiving ZiG 1.3 million, which was meant to be equivalent to USD50 000,” Molokele explained, adding that the approved projects were subsequently endorsed by the relevant Parliamentary committee.

He also confirmed that no CDF proposals have yet been submitted for 2025 and 2026.

Residents seeking further information have been advised to contact CDF Committee Secretary Thulani Moyo on 078 648 3659.

Molokele said at least two public feedback meetings will be held once implementation begins, to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the funds.

National

Education ministry launches nationwide one laptop, one iPad per pupil program

Published

4 days ago

January 6, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY LWAZI SHOKO

Zimbabwe has launched a nationwide One Laptop, One iPad Per Pupil initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and expanding access to technology in schools, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Torerayi Moyo announced on X on Monday.

The programme, being implemented in partnership with UNICEF Zimbabwe, will see the distribution of ICT equipment including laptops, tablets and projectors to schools across the country, with priority given to disadvantaged and solar-powered schools.

According to Minister Moyo, the initiative is designed to strengthen digital teaching and learning while promoting inclusive and equitable education. He said the programme seeks to ensure that all learners, regardless of geographic location or socio-economic background, have access to modern learning tools.

“As part of this initiative, I had the honour of presiding over the official handover of a major consignment of ICT devices,” Moyo said, adding that the resources would support the delivery of quality education and help prepare learners for a technology-driven future.

The minister described the programme as a transformative step that goes beyond the provision of devices, framing it as an investment in equity, opportunity and long-term national development.

Moyo also paid tribute to President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, crediting his leadership under Vision 2030 and the Presidential Computerisation Programme for driving innovation and public-private partnerships in the education sector.

“By placing a laptop and an iPad in the hands of every pupil, we are building the digital foundations of a knowledge-based economy,” he said.

Lastly, expressed gratitude to UNICEF Zimbabwe and other development partners for their continued support, noting that the collaboration is key to building a more connected and future-ready education system.

In the community

Two artisanal miners die in Umguza mine shaft collapse

Published

2 weeks ago

December 25, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Two artisanal miners have died following the collapse of a flooded mine shaft at Cement Side in Umguza District, ZBC has reported.

The incident occurred early Tuesday morning after heavy water ingress caused the shaft to give way, trapping the two men underground.

When rescue teams arrived at the scene, officers from the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services Department, assisted by local volunteers, were leading recovery efforts.

A survivor of the incident, Khulumani Nkomo, described the terrifying moments leading up to the collapse.

“We heard a loud cracking sound as we reached the ground, then water started rushing in. The two were behind us, and the shaft just closed, trapping the other one in the tunnel,” he said.

Nkomo added that attempts to rescue the trapped miners proved futile.

“We tried to dig with our hands and tools, but the water kept coming. By the time help arrived, it was already too late.”

A brother of one of the deceased miners said the family is struggling to cope with the loss, revealing that the victim was only 19 years old.