BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Hwange East legislator, Joseph Bonda, has taken the fight for local employment in wildlife conservation to Parliament, questioning why communities living alongside dangerous animals are being sidelined in job opportunities.

In a question directed to the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Bonda pressed for clarity on what measures are in place to ensure that residents of Hwange District are prioritised for employment by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. He argued that locals, who bear the brunt of human-wildlife conflict, should be first in line for jobs in the sector.

The matter, however, did not receive an immediate response in the National Assembly and was deferred on 18 March 2026, leaving the concerns unresolved for now. 

Bonda’s intervention has resonated strongly with communities in Hwange, where wildlife is both a resource and a risk.

“We live with these animals every day”

In Mabale, local villager Sibangani Ndlovu said it is unfair that outsiders benefit from jobs linked to wildlife while locals face constant danger.

“We live with these animals every day. Elephants destroy our crops, sometimes people are injured or killed. But when jobs come, they go to people from far away. That is not right,” he said.

“Employment should be compensation too”

Another r, Memory Moyo from Dete, said employment in parks and safari operations should be viewed as part of community compensation.

“If we are expected to conserve wildlife, then we must also benefit. Jobs are one of the biggest benefits. Otherwise, people will start to see animals as a burden, not a resource.”

Youth feel locked out

Young people in the district say lack of access to jobs in the wildlife sector is worsening unemployment.

Talent Ncube, a youth from Hwange, said many qualified locals are overlooked.

“We have people trained in tourism and conservation here, but they are not getting opportunities. It discourages us as young people because we feel excluded from our own resources.”

Growing pressure on government

Bonda’s question adds to mounting pressure on government to align conservation efforts with community benefits, especially in areas like Hwange where human-wildlife conflict is frequent.

With the issue now formally raised in Parliament, residents say they are waiting to see whether authorities will respond with concrete policy changes—or whether, like many rural concerns, it will remain unresolved.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A Hwange court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to 18 years in prison for the rape of his 12-year-old niece following a New Year’s Eve assault, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said.

The Hwange Regional Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence after hearing how the man lured the child to his residence in Dingani Village, Dete, on the 31st of December, last year.

The court heard that at approximately 12:00 hours, the offender used a false pretext to get the victim into his room, instructing her to bring her mother’s mobile phone to help him with a WhatsApp application. Once inside, he forcibly pushed the girl onto a bed and raped her.

Following the assault, the man ordered the child into silence, but the crime was discovered immediately when the girl returned home in tears and narrated the ordeal to her mother. The victim’s family confronted the man and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.

In a statement regarding the conviction, the NPAZ described the case as a profound betrayal of trust within a family unit.

The authority noted that the 18-year term was intended to send a clear message that the law would serve as a shield for our children, particularly against those responsible for their protection [1]. Prosecutors also commended the family for their swift action in reporting the crime to authorities.

BY STAFF REPORTER

A total of 104 inmates are living with HIV across eight correctional facilities in Matabeleland North, according to data from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

The figures, which were first reported by the Chronicle, were presented by ZPCS Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Godknows Ncube during a National Aids Council stakeholder meeting in Bulawayo.

Of the inmates recorded as positive, 98 are aged 25 and older, while six are under the age of 25. The affected facilities include Victoria Falls Prison, Hwange Prison, Ntabazinduna Satellite Prison, Anju Farm Prison, Tsholotsho Prison, Lupane Prison, and Binga Prison .

During the most recent quarter, 144 inmates underwent testing for HIV, resulting in one positive diagnosis .

While correctional facilities received 900 male condoms, officials reported that no female condoms were provided. Ncube noted the need to address this gender bias and ensure that female protectors are available for inmates.

The prison service is also facing challenges with medication adherence. Ncube emphasized that there is a high number of defaulters, particularly among younger inmates who were aware of their HIV status before entering the system.

He called for the integration of HIV services with other health programs and stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring and reporting within the prisons. Currently, some facilities in the region are not yet accredited to provide antiretroviral therapy services, highlighting a need for further staff training and equipment