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Hwange to host regional summit on ivory trade ban

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe will this month hold a regional summit to discuss a common position on the global ban on ivory trade as the countries battle to fund conservation activities and rising poaching activities.

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The summit to be held in Hwange  between May 23 and 26 will be attended by environment and tourism ministers from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

Ministers from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Angola will attend the summit.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said the region wanted to speak with one voice on the ivory trade ban by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which has been in place since 1998.

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“We want to build consensus around African countries to speak with one voice when it comes to conservation and safeguarding of our animals and the communities,” Farawo told VicFallsLive.

“We also want to find out on what is it that we can do in terms of dealing with our stockpile because as Zimbabwe, we are sitting on more than half a billion dollars of ivory.

“Issues around the lifting of the CITES ban will be extensively discussed so that at least our people can benefit as we try to also fight wildlife related crimes around the southern Africa region.”

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He said African countries have failed to lobby against the ivory trade ban because of lack of a platform where there can speak with one voice at CITES gatherings.

“If we build consensus as Africans, when we go on an international wildlife forum undivided and our voices can outweigh the decision,” Farawo said.

“We also want to take stock of our failures and successes over the years as neighbouring countries and to also come up with strategies and methods of how-to carry out conservation, to deal with climate change and poaching”

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In 2019, Zimparks reported that more than 200 elephants and other wildlife species at the country’s game parks died due to drought.

The authority says its failure to dispose of its huge ivory stockpiles has left it unable to fund conservation activities and also to mitigate against the effects of climate change.

“Almost every animal is being affected by this ban,” Farawo said.

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He said an increasing number of animals were straying from game reserves into nearby communities in search of food and water leading to cases of human-wildlife conflicts that resulted in the death of 71 people last year alone.

Stevenson Dhlamini, an economic analyst from the National University of Science and Technology, said the forthcoming summit could unlock opportunities for the country’s economy.

“Also, this move will go a long way in ensuring that the population growth of elephants is manageable,” Dhlamini said.

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“The communities will also benefit from the influx of tourists into their communities, which results in economic empowerment.

“Again, the lifting of the ban will ensure that the blanket approach to environmental protection does not result in an unfair effect on the communities who do not have the capacity to sustain larger elephant populations which then strains the ecosystem.”

Zimbabwe has an estimated elephant population of 85 000, which is the second largest in Africa after second only to neighbouring Botswana with more than 130 000.

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The southern African country has been exporting live elephants to countries such as China and authorities say this is one of the ways of controlling their population and also to raise money for conservation.

Between 2016 and this year Zimbabwe exported about 100 elephants, mainly to China and the United Arab Emirates and raised more than US$3 million.

There have also been suggestions that the country must start culling elephants.

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The country last culled elephants in 1988 and continues to have stockpiles of ivory which it cannot sell because of restrictions.

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National

Migration on the rise: Matabeleland North tops outbound movement in latest ZimLAC report

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINK

Matabeleland North has recorded some of the highest levels of migration in Zimbabwe, with 12.6% of households moving to urban areas and 7.8% leaving the country, according to the 2024–2025 Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) report.

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The figures highlight a growing trend in which families are uprooting in search of work, education, and better living conditions, with the province’s migration rate well above the national averages of 9.9% for rural-to-urban moves and 5.0% for emigration.

For many in Matabeleland North, economic necessity drives these decisions.

“I had to send my son to Bulawayo because there was simply no work here,” said Thabani Ncube, a smallholder farmer in Lupane. “Even piece jobs have dried up. At least in town, he can hustle and maybe support the family.”

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The ZimLAC report shows that employment opportunities are the leading reason behind rural-to-urban migration nationally (6.3%). In Matabeleland North, 7.7% cited education as the next big pull factor, followed by new residential land and improved living standards.

Experts warn that while migration can bring relief through remittances, it also risks hollowing out rural communities.

“This trend is a double-edged sword,” explained Dr. Nomalanga Sibanda, a livelihoods researcher in Bulawayo. “Families may benefit from remittances, but local economies lose critical labour and skills. Over time, this weakens resilience in rural districts.”

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Other Provinces: Contrasting Patterns

Matabeleland South recorded the highest rate of emigration, with 13.5% of households reporting that members had left the country — nearly triple the national average. Masvingo followed closely, with 16.5% moving to towns and 7.7% leaving for the diaspora.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland Central had the lowest levels of outward movement, with just 4.4% moving to towns and 1.0% emigrating.

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Midlands also stood out, with 12.9% shifting to urban areas and 6.2% relocating abroad, driven mainly by job opportunities and schooling.

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Across Zimbabwe, nearly one in ten households (9.9%) reported rural-to-urban migration, while 5% indicated emigration outside the country. Employment, education, and improved living standards remain the strongest motivators.

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For ordinary families, the story is about survival and hope.

“My husband left for South Africa last year,” said Memory Dube of Gwanda, Matabeleland South. “He sends money when he can, but life is tough there too. Still, we rely on that income to buy food and pay school fees.”

ZimLAC, which advises the government through the Food and Nutrition Council (FNC), says the data will guide evidence-based interventions. The report stresses that migration trends are not just statistics, but reflect deeper issues of economic opportunity, resilience, and service delivery across provinces.

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Matabeleland North tops in open defecation as sanitation gaps persist

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The latest 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment by the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) has revealed that Matabeleland North province has the highest proportion of households practising open defecation in the country, underscoring deep-rooted poverty and infrastructure challenges in rural communities.

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According to the report, Binga district leads with a staggering 80.1% of households without toilets, followed by Tsholotsho at 56.5%. Kariba (50.8%) and Mwenezi (49.4%) also recorded alarming levels of open defecation.

Nationally, there has been modest progress. The proportion of households with basic sanitation services increased slightly from 51% in 2020 to 55% in 2025. At the same time, open defecation declined from 29% in 2020 to 24% in 2025.

While these statistics point to progress at a national level, the reality in provinces like Matabeleland North paints a starkly different picture. Communities continue to struggle with extreme poverty, limited resources, and inadequate support to build or maintain proper sanitation facilities.

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ZimLAC noted that the findings are critical for shaping livelihoods policies and targeting interventions where they are most needed. The report emphasized that tackling inequalities in rural sanitation remains central to advancing Zimbabwe’s development goals.

Community Voices: Life Without Toilets in Matabeleland North

In Binga, where most households lack toilets, villagers say poverty is at the heart of the crisis:

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“We want toilets, but we cannot afford cement or bricks,” said 64-year-old grandmother from Sidinda. “Even when NGOs come, they only build for a few households. The rest of us dig shallow pits which collapse in the rains. That’s why many people just go to the bush.”

In Tsholotsho, young people express frustration over promises that never materialize:

“We were told about sanitation projects, but they stopped halfway. People survive by selling firewood; where will they get money for toilets?” asked Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, a 22-year-old.

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For families living along the Zambezi in Binga, land conditions add another challenge:

“The soil is sandy and unstable. Even if we dig, the pit does not last long. Poverty makes it worse, because we cannot reinforce the toilets like people in towns,”another villager explained.

In Nkayi, the harsh climate compounds the problem:

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“We focus on finding food and water first. A toilet is a luxury for many families here,” said Joseph Moyo, a farmer battling drought conditions.

Despite the struggles, communities across Matabeleland North expressed a strong desire for better sanitation, linking the lack of toilets to health risks, dignity, and children’s wellbeing.

As ZimLAC’s findings show, progress is possible — but without targeted support in the hardest-hit areas, open defecation will remain entrenched in Zimbabwe’s rural poverty landscape.

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Zimbabwe selected for groundbreaking HIV prevention initiative

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe has announced an exciting development in the fight against HIV: Zimbabwe has been selected as one of the ten countries globally to roll out lenacapavir, a breakthrough in HIV prevention.

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“Yes Zimbabwe, it’s happening!” the embassy declared, highlighting the significance of this initiative.

“For decades, we’ve fought to turn the tide against this epidemic, and each day we get closer,” the statement continued. This new treatment represents a pivotal moment in HIV prevention efforts, as it is the first twice-yearly HIV prevention medicine.

The implementation of lenacapavir is made possible through a partnership with U.S.-based Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund. A key finding from a large-scale clinical trial shows that more than 99% of people on lenacapavir remained HIV negative. While this has the potential to save millions of lives, the Embassy emphasized that for Zimbabwe, it represents a major step toward ending new infections.

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“But this is more than medicine—it advances us on a pathway to a safer, stronger, and healthier future!” noted the embassy’s announcement.

The initiative particularly focuses on pregnant and breastfeeding women, aiming to protect the next generation. It will also work toward strengthening healthcare systems, empowering Zimbabwe to lead its own fight against HIV. Moreover, the goal of making lenacapavir more affordable and accessible ensures that no one is left behind.

The embassy highlighted, “This is American leadership at its best: driving innovation, and building a world where children, mothers, and communities can thrive.”

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As this initiative rolls out, the message is clear: “Together, we’re not just fighting HIV—we’re winning.”

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