Tourism and Environment

Mines threaten wildlife, sacred sites – and people

Published

5 years ago

July 30, 2021

VicFallsLive

BY VIMBAI CHINEMBIRI / GAMUCHIRAI MASIYIWA

In early 2020, communities around Hwange National Park, in southwest Zimbabwe, feared the worst.

On the fringes of the park, not far from the popular Sinamatela wildlife resort, miners explored whether the area held enough coal to mine.

This part of Sinamatela, which the government labels as an Intensive Protection Zone, is home to about 45,800 elephants. Black rhino, which are critically endangered, also live there.

But in September, the Zimbabwean government ordered a stop to mining in protected areas.

Conservationists breathed a sigh of relief. Not for long.

Environmental activists fear the new policy – which doesn’t carry the weight of law – has failed to shield tens of thousands of animals and sacred sites in protected areas, kindling conflict between humans and wildlife that has killed scores of people since last year.

Mining in protected areas is “increasingly becoming a usual occurrence, from both large scale and artisanal miners within protected areas,” according to a report published by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, an organisation that focuses on research and policy.

In other parts of the world, such as the American West, mining-related lung infections have afflicted some animals.

Electric cables have killed birds. Fish have died because of rerouted streams.

Protected areas in Zimbabwe are rich in gold and coal deposits, “so people have been moving in for economic gain,” said Nqobizitha Ndlovu, the national legal and policy adviser at the environmental law association.

In Zimbabwe, 64 protected areas include national parks, botanical reserves, sanctuaries, safaris and recreational parks, covering nearly 13% of the country’s land.

Early last year, locals spotted miners drilling in Hwange National Park.

Initially, they weren’t concerned, as they were used to seeing miners in the area.

But they grew alarmed when, a few months later, the miners’ company produced a permit to explore for coal.

Park officials, safari owners, ordinary residents and community leaders led distress calls online, via the media and through community meetings challenging how the miners had won their permits.

Mining in protected areas can occur only with consent from the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and Zimbabwe’s president, according to the Parks and Wildlife Act.

Activist Fidelis Chima, coordinator of the Greater Whange Residents Trust, together with the law association, took the government to court in September, arguing that officials hadn’t received such consent.

And two days later, the government halted mining in protected areas.

But the new policy isn’t a law.

“In terms of the laws of the country, policies are generally not binding, so if the government issues a policy and [envisions] that that policy should be binding, it should then change that policy into a legislation,” Ndlovu saod.

Absent a law, mining persists in protected areas, Ndlovu said. These areas include Chimanimani, which covers 171 square kilometers and is famous for its elegant mountains and Eland Sanctuary.

It also hosts, among other wildlife: zebra; klipspringer, a small antelope known for its rock-climbing ability; bushbuck; hyena; and leopard.

“The area is basically occupied with illegal

[freelance]

miners,” Ndlovu says.

Mining left a trail of destruction, including deforestation and open pits, which affected the fauna and flora that attract people to these parks, said Collen Sibanda, a tour guide in Chimanimani.

Miners disturbed tributaries and dug inside sacred caves, he said. They removed cave stones in search of gold.

Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, denied those claims.

“We have been trying to protect the park from our end to avoid illegal mining problems,” Farawo said.

“We don’t have such reports. We have asked people to bring evidence of such activities, but no one is forthcoming.”

Mining risks heightening conflict between humans and wildlife, as evidenced by a local company’s impact on a protected safari area 10 kilometers outside Hwange town, says a conservationist who requested anonymity for fear of retribution.

“The animal habitat has been affected terribly because they tend to move toward human habitat because of the noise from mining and contaminated water,” said the conservationist.

In January, a mining dump truck knocked down two elephants, he says.

And elephants, crocodiles and buffalo killed 50 people nationwide in the first half of last year due to mining activities and human-wildlife conflict, according to a report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, a Zimbabwe-based research and advocacy organisation.

Onesimo Moyo, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, said the agency plans to cancel all mining titles held in protected areas.

But that doesn’t put everyone at ease.

Government officials must better acquaint themselves with the sites to which they give special grants, says Chief Charles Nekatambe, of Sinamatela.

“No one should mess with [our sacred places], or anger our ancestors,” he said. “There are cultural processes that are done before mining occurs. This should be respected.” – Global Press Journal

Slider

A guardian’s legacy: PDC honours Greg ‘Gibby’ Gibbard as painted dog successes grow

Published

2 weeks ago

April 9, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a poignant tribute that has resonated across the conservation community, Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) recently gathered to honour the memory of Greg ‘Gibby’ Gibbard, a man whose life was inextricably linked to the survival of the African wild dog. Gibbard, who passed away in 2015, is being remembered not just for his years of service, but for a legacy that continues to safeguard one of the continent’s most endangered predators.

The Facebook remembrance, shared by Maria of PDC, highlights a life defined by “unwavering courage” and a refusal to let the story of the painted dog end. While the region continues to grapple with intense poaching pressure—including a recent surge in illegal traps that has seen thousands of snares removed from the bush—the focus of this week’s memorial is on the “hope and resilience” that Gibbard instilled in the mission.

Tracking Footprints in the Sand

For those who knew him, Greg’s work was far from the polished image of modern wildlife tourism. It was characterized by “long days in the bush, tracking fading footprints in dust and sand,” and the relentless, often exhausting effort of “educating communities and inspiring young conservationists.”

Maria noted that Gibbard stood as a “guardian of a species that many had forgotten,” recognizing early on that the survival of the patchwork-coated dogs was “inseparable from our own future.” His dedication spanned “sleepless nights worrying about disease and disappearing habitat,” a commitment that laid the foundation for the sophisticated tracking and research operations used by PDC today.

A Legacy of Resilience: The Umkhonto Pack

The success of modern interventions is widely seen as a continuation of Gibbard’s vision. A primary example is the Umkhonto Pack, which has become a “flagship example of science-driven, field-based conservation”.

Image by PDC

Though the park faces ongoing challenges with illegal snaring in communal areas, the protection of this specific pack has been a resounding victory. According to the latest PDC data:

Eight healthy pups were successfully raised during the last denning season with no mortalities .
The pack has stabilized at 19 individuals , now ranging within the safety of Hwange National Park.
The integration of research and tracking technology—methods Gibbard championed—led to the arrest of eleven poachers in the pack’s territory.

The “Shadows of the Savanna” Live OnAs the conservation community marks a decade since his passing, the presence of these “remarkable predators” remains the ultimate tribute to his life. The current population in the Hwange and Sinamatela regions is robust, with several monitored packs carrying the torch of his efforts.

The Emerald pack, which has reached 22 individuals, and the Batsha pack , with 20 dogs, are thriving examples of the “unbreakable family bonds” Maria spoke of in her tribute . Other groups, including the Kingsbury, Linkwasha, Chowato, Cave, Intundla, Khumbula, and Garikamwe packs, continue to move like “shadows across the savanna at sunrise,” fulfilling Gibbard’s dream of a wilderness that still echoes with their high-pitched calls.

“May we honour Greg’s memory not only with words, but with action,” the tribute concluded.

Slider

Tourism bill clears National Assembly, moves to Senate

Published

4 weeks ago

March 26, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe’s Tourism Act Amendment Bill has been passed by the National Assembly and now awaits debate in the Senate, marking a key step towards overhauling the country’s tourism sector.

According to the explanatory memorandum, “This Bill seeks to establish a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority that is responsible for the regulation for the tourism and hospitality industry, and the marketing of destination Zimbabwe.”

The proposed law strengthens the role of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), which will regulate, license and promote the industry. It also introduces stricter compliance measures for tourism operators.

Under the new provisions, registration and grading of facilities will be mandatory. The Bill states: “no person shall conduct or operate that designated tourist facility unless it is registered and graded.”

Authorities will also have enforcement powers, including shutting down non-compliant operators.

The legislation further extends regulation to online accommodation platforms, a growing segment in the tourism sector. It stipulates that: “All hosts must register with the Authority… before listing a property on an accommodation booking platform.”

To support industry growth, the Bill proposes the creation of a dedicated fund. It notes: “There is hereby established a fund to be known as the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund,” which will be used for “the development and promotion of the tourism and hospitality industry.”

Sustainability and inclusivity are also central to the new law. The Bill provides that: “All tourism policies, programs, and projects shall incorporate the principles of sustainable development.”

It further emphasises inclusion, stating that tourism development must mainstream “gender equality, disability inclusion, and the rights of indigenous peoples.”

Once enacted, the law will replace the current Tourism Act. The Bill clearly states it seeks “to repeal the Tourism Act [Chapter 14:20].”

The Bill now proceeds to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to debate its provisions before it can be sent for presidential assent.

Slider

MP probes Binga tourism, climate and conservation plans

Published

4 weeks ago

March 25, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Binga South legislator, Fanuel Cumanzala has called for clarity on tourism development and environmental protection in the Zambezi Valley.

In a parliamentary hearing, Cumanzala asked the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife:

“The plans the Ministry has in place to develop and promote tourism in Binga District, particularly around the Zambezi River, in order to enhance local economic development and create employment opportunities for residents.”

He added:

“The programmes being implemented to ensure that local communities in Binga District directly benefit from tourism.”

Further questions focused on sustainability and climate resilience:

“What measures are in place to ensure the protection and sustainable management of natural tourism assets in the Zambezi Valley, including wildlife, rivers and forests, in order to prevent environmental degradation.”

“The efforts being made to combat poaching in the Zambezi Valley, particularly in Binga District, and how local communities are being involved in wildlife protection initiatives.”

“The climate adaptation strategies being implemented to assist communities in Binga District in coping with droughts, floods, and other climate-related challenges affecting the Zambezi Valley.”

No ministerial responses were recorded.