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IFAW country director reveals plans to introduce sniffer dogs at Victoria Falls airport

Published

4 months ago

January 31, 2025

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is planning to introduce snifter dogs at the Victoria Fails International Airport to detect wildlife products like ivory.

This was revealed by IFAW Country Director, Aleta Nyawuye, at a handover ceremony of two Land Cruisers and a K9 dog unit to Zimparks in Victoria Falls towards the end of last year. On the sidelines of the event Nyawuye said, “So, there are a number of types of dogs that are used in detecting crimes. This particular type of dog that we are partnering with Zimparks is called the blue ticker hound.”

Nyawuye emphasized the importance of addressing transboundary crimes, saying, “What we need to do progressively is to be able to deal with transboundary crimes… Because crime is not only confined within the country, but it also traverses across borders.”

She noted that the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Park (KAZA) region, which spans across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia, is particularly vulnerable to such crimes.

Nyawuye explained that the introduction of sniffer dogs at the Victoria Falls International Airport is part of a broader strategy to combat wildlife crime. “So, what we need to do going forward is to be able to have specific types of sniffer dogs at the international airport Victoria Falls that are able to detect stuff like ivory or any other animal product that is not supposed to be leaving this country.”

She acknowledged that the planning stages are still underway, saying, “When I say we are going to implement this, we are still at the planning stage. This is a long-term intervention that we are planning because this also goes with a rapid response unit.”

In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

Published

3 weeks ago

May 15, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

2 months ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.