In the community

Poor service delivery, lack of transparency cost Hwange residents:GWRT

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2023

BY LWANDLE MTHUNZI

Hwange residents have complained about poor service delivery by the Hwange Local Board (HLB) , especially public toilets which are a health hazard.

Hwange and Victoria Falls are the only urban areas in Matabeleland North.

In a statement, Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT) said residents are worried about poor service and lack of transparency in the local authority.

“Greater Whange Residents Trust has noted with concern the deterioration of service delivery both in Hwange Local Board and concession areas in 2022, notably in Empumalanga West and public toilets,” said GWRT.

Hwange town is administered by various authorities including HLB which presides over Empumalanga, Chibondo and Baobab areas, Hwange Colliery which administers all concession areas covering Number 1, 2, 3 and 5,

National Railways of Zimbabwe that oversees Railways and Nguminja areas as well as Zimbabwe Power Company whose area of jurisdiction covers suburbs around the power station.

There are plans to integrate all the areas into one local authority under HLB which is set to become a town.

However, it is the old dysfunctional public toilets in the concession areas that have irked residents.

Each public toilet is shared by not less than 100 people and hardly has running water as residents use the bucket system.

The Railways section has been without water and electricity for several months on end.

Residents fear they might be exposed to diseases.

Roads are also in a sorry state.

GWRT chairman Brian Chikumbo said the issue of toilets is a cause for concern.

“Public toilets are a challenge in the concession areas that are under Hwange Colliery while the HLB has been failing on servicing land for people to start building houses in Empumalanga,” he said.

He said a majority of the homeseekers had paid to the council for housing stands but still cannot access them to start building.

“In Empumalanga it is of great concern that it has taken a long time for progress to happen. People are not allowed to build and the reasons being cited being that the place is not yet ready according to

Government regulations.

“The local authority has to be honest and come forward to tell people what really needs to be done. We need transparency to highlight what is exactly hindering progress, ”he said.

Chikumbo said surprisingly, there are some that have built houses and blamed this on corruption.

In the community

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

Published

1 week 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.

In the community

Crocodile attacks claim 9 lives, injure 11

Published

1 month ago

March 13, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A surge in crocodile attacks has left a trail of death and destruction in Zimbabwe, with 9 fatalities and 11 injuries reported in the last two months.

According to a statement released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 49 human-crocodile conflict cases were recorded during the same period, resulting in the loss of 44 cattle and 60 goats.

The Mid-Zambezi region, which includes Lake Kariba, Angwa River, and Hunyani River, was the hardest hit, with 19 cases reported. The Central region recorded 14 cases, while 16 cases were reported in other areas, including Matopo, Harare, North-West Matabeleland, and South-East Low-veld.

ZimParks has urged communities to exercise extreme caution, especially around water bodies, during the current rain season. The authority has advised communities to ensure that livestock and children are not left unattended near rivers or lakes, and to take precautions when engaging in water activities such as fishing, swimming, and domestic chores.

To mitigate the situation, ZimParks is working closely with local authorities and conservation partners to raise public awareness and promote safety practices. The authority has emphasized its commitment to finding a balance between ensuring public safety and conserving wildlife.

As the situation continues to unfold, ZimParks has appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to report any crocodile sightings or attacks to the authorities.