Connect with us

National

Upsurge in cases of human-wildlife conflicts in Hwange, Matetsi

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

There is an upsurge in cases of human-wildlife conflict in areas around the Hwange and Matesti wildlife corridor due to over population in nature reserves and water shortages, Environment, Climate and Tourism minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.

Advertisement

Ndlovu told the ongoing 2022 pre-budget seminar for parliamentarians in Victoria Falls that consultations had revealed that increasing competition for resources such as water and food between people and wild animals was becoming increasingly deadly.

“Some of the key causes of human- wildlife conflict identified in the consultations so far are; increase in wildlife populations especially in Hwange and Matetsi areas vis-a-vis the available land area and forage,” Ndlovu said.

“(There is an) increase in human settlements in buffer zones and wildlife corridors and lack of meaningful direct benefits from wildlife hence communities decide to encroach into wildlife areas.

Advertisement

“There is also competition for water resources between wild animals, livestock and communities especially in the dry seasons and during periods of droughts.”

Ndlovu said lack of viable wildlife population control measures, especially in the wake of international restrictions, was also another factor that contributed to an unsustainable growth in wildlife populations.

He bemoaned the destruction of game fences, particularly in areas where human wildlife interactions have been known to occur.

Advertisement

Ndlovu said consultations with key stakeholders and communities indicated the need to re- establish game fences to reduce human wildlife interactions and financing replanning of settlements as well as ensure proper land use planning to avoid wildlife corridors and buffer zones.

“There is also a need to increase water supply in wildlife habitats to curtail unnecessary wildlife movements across park boundaries,” he said.

He said the process was already being done through assistance from international partners such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Frankfurt Zoological Society and the African Parks Network.

Advertisement

Other measures include translocations, increased hunting quotas and expedited implementation of the new Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources modalities to ensure accountability by appropriate authority holders such as rural district councils.

Ndlovu told parliamentarians that his ministry has started consultations to update the 1992 Wildlife Policy, which will contain strategies to address human- wildlife conflict.

“So far consultations are taking place in Matabeleland North province from the 21st to the 25th of October, “he said.

Advertisement

“Meetings have so far taken place in Tsholotsho, Bulawayo and Maphisa and the team will be moving to Binga next week and the rest of the country’s key wildlife areas will be covered in November. ”

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

on

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Advertisement

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

Advertisement

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

on

BY STAFF REPORTER 

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Advertisement

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Advertisement

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

National

Retailers send Mnangagwa SOS as shops continue shutting down over operational woes

Published

on


BY ZIMLIVE

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and save the sector which has seen various formal retail and wholesale businesses closing shop countrywide due to operational challenges.

Advertisement

In a statement on Sunday, CZR president Denford Mutashu said the continued closure of formal retail and wholesale businesses is a direct consequence of the tough economic environment that has consistently failed to support formalised sector players who face stiff competition from informal businesses and vendors the majority of whom have no tax obligations to deal with.

Mutashu said his association was concerned that authorities continue to downplay the crisis.

“The recent closure of several outlets under the N. Richards Group, coupled with Spar Zimbabwe’s painful decision to shut down Queensdale Spar, Choppies Zimbabwe’s exit from the market, and Mahommed Mussa’s significant reduction of shop space by 60%, highlights the growing crisis.

Advertisement

“As the representative association for these and other brands, CZR is alarmed that while formal businesses face enormous challenges, the authorities continue to present a different picture of the operating environment,” he said.

Given the situation, Mutashu said, only President Mnangagwa can rescue the troubled sector.

“CZR therefore calls for urgent intervention from His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to rescue what remains of the formalized retail and wholesale sector,” said Mutashu.

Advertisement

He said the sector was in urgent need of rescue.

“While CZR acknowledges the continued support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is clear that the root causes of these challenges are fiscal and monetary in nature. These require urgent and decisive action to ensure the survival of formal businesses.

“CZR therefore appeals to the Presidium to prioritize interventions aimed at saving jobs and mitigating the ongoing wave of shop closures and retrenchments,” he said.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 VicFallsLive. All rights reserved, powered by Advantage