adminFrom George Maponga in Masvingo
Government has signed an agreement with the European Union where the latter will avail $20 million to develop communities around the wildlife-rich Save Valley Conservancy in the south east Lowveld under the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire). Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri revealed that Government had inked a deal with the EU.She said the funds would in the long run reduce poaching at the wildlife-rich conservancy.
‘’The EU has made available $20 million to support Campfire programmes for communities around Save Valley and we hope the move will help the communities to appreciate the importance of co-existing with wildlife in the conservancy, especially considering that there have been reports of rampant poaching and destruction of the perimeter fence,’’ she said.
‘’We are happy with the funding that has been released by the EU because communities around Save Valley will accrue some benefits from wildlife operations at the conservancy because all along, they were suffering at the hands of some of these wild animals, which sometimes destroyed their crops and homes and various other effects of conflict between humans and wildlife.’’
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said $8 million would go towards setting up irrigation schemes to help in the production of food.
The remaining $12 million would be used for other projects such as developing clean water sources for communities around the wildlife-rich conservancy.
The release of the funds by the EU is part of the ongoing multi-sectoral efforts to curb rampant poaching in one of Zimbabwe’s biggest wildlife sanctuaries.
Save Valley has more than 20 properties with at least seven protected under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs), while the remainder are incorporated under the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
ZimParks has since started restructuring Save Valley after some of the properties under its control were invaded by illegal settlers who are blamed for indiscriminately killing wildlife.
The invaders also stand accused of vandalising the perimeter fence thereby increasing chances of conflict between wild animals and human beings around the sanctuary.
Most of the properties protected under BIPPAs at Save Valley were run by nationals or companies from EU countries.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri gave the reassurance that ZimParks was not going to interfere in the running of properties protected under BIPPAs at Save Valley.
She added that Government would not go back on the takeover of other properties that were incorporated under the parks estates following problems that arose after some senior politicians were given 25-year hunting permits under the wildlife-based land reform programme.
The hunting permits were cancelled after Government ruled that the majority of the beneficiaries were multiple farm owners.
‘’Nothing has changed with regards to the incorporation of some of the properties under the control of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
“Properties under BIPPAs were left alone and the decision that was made two years ago when Government directed the politicians and other officials who had moved into Save Valley be removed, nothing has changed, the Parks Authority is now in charge,’’ added Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Save Valley straddles for over 340 000 hectares and shares a boundary with communities in Bikita and Chiredzi districts in Masvingo province, and Chipinge district in Manicaland.
A large part of the nearly 320 kilometre double perimeter fence around the conservancy was destroyed by poachers, a situation that has resulted in dangerous animals such as lions entering surrounding communities, threatening humans and killing livestock.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the destroyed perimeter fence requires nearly $4 million to repair.
Online Reporter